By Christopher Williams,Staff Writer

AUBURN – A court officer and a lawyer leapt to action Thursday when a prisoner became unruly and began shouting obscenities.

Louis Rubino Jr., 24, of Lewiston had just pleaded not guilty in Androscoggin County Superior Court to several charges stemming from a January raid on his Sabattus Street apartment where police found a methamphetamine lab.

Just after Rubino was told he would not be allowed to have any contact with his 3-year-old daughter, he suddenly lurched back toward the judge’s bench.

“Hey, wait! There’s a mistake,” he said. He tried to approach Justice Ellen Gorman, but his lawyer and Sheriff’s Deputy Leif Nickerson intercepted him.

When he began shouting obscenities, defense lawyer Valerie Stanfill reached up to silence her client. At the same time, Nickerson reached from behind Rubino and wrapped an arm around his neck.

Nickerson was joined by other uniformed officers who escorted Rubino quickly from the courtroom. Stanfill followed.

The incident marked the second time since his arrest that Rubino had to be restrained by court security. At his initial appearance in 8th District Court in Lewiston, he became agitated and argued with the judge when he was told he could not see his child, who has been in state custody since the day of his arrest.

Rubino’s girlfriend, Donna Marie Pagnani, 23, looked on Thursday from her seat at the rear of the courtroom. She had been arraigned on similar charges shortly before Rubino. The terms of her bail allow visits with their child.

Cash bail was set at $50,000 for Rubino, or $100,000 surety; $10,000 for Pagnani, same surety.

They were ordered to have no contact with each other and to refrain from alcohol use or pseudoephedrine, an ingredient found in over-the-counter allergy or cold medicines used in the production of methamphetamine.

The two have been held in Androscoggin County Jail since the Jan. 25 raid on their apartment.

After officers led Rubino into the courtroom Thursday, they removed the handcuffs that bound him to the other dozen or so prisoners. Following his outburst, officers cuffed his hands behind his back before leading him out of the courtroom.

Pagnani, the only woman prisoner in the courtroom that morning, was kept in handcuffs the entire time.

Rubino has a history of criminal convictions, including assault, according to court records.

In the current case, both Rubino and Pagnani have been charged with unlawful trafficking and possession of scheduled drugs, reckless conduct and endangering the welfare of a child.

Rubino also was charged with conspiracy to traffic in scheduled drugs. Pagnani also was charged with violation of conditions of release. Both defendants answered: “Not guilty” after Gorman read each charge.

In January, when police discovered the meth lab in the couple’s apartment, they evacuated the four-unit building. They sent four people to the hospital, including the couple’s child, for observation. The process of making methamphetamine can create toxic gases, which can be inhaled and cause burns.

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