Richard Lessard had a long history of contact with the law

LEWISTON – For the last few months, trouble just seemed to follow Richard “Rick” Lessard.

On. Nov. 5, the 52-year-old Lewiston man was shot in his right leg while reportedly invading a home on Pownal Road in Auburn. The bullet left him hobbled, according to his family, an eight-inch titanium rod having replaced shattered bone.

Then, days before Christmas, his elder sister, 58-year-old Sandra Veilleux, died unexpectedly in her Lewiston home.

On Friday, Lessard also met an untimely end. Police and rescue personnel were called to his apartment at 186 Bartlett St., a fading powder-blue colonial near the corner of Birch Street, at 4:30 a.m. to find him severely wounded from a stab to the chest.

He was taken to Central Maine Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

An 18-year-old Lewiston man, Sergio Hairston, has been charged with murder. He is being held without bail at the Androscoggin County Jail and is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday.

Maine State Police Lt. Brian McDonough said the stabbing was likely drug-related, and investigators remained inside the upstairs apartment through late Friday morning.

Police refused to confirm who was inside the apartment at the time of the stabbing, except to say that “family members were present.”

“We’re still doing the scene today,” said McDonough.

Stephen Lessard, a nephew of the victim, said he’s unsure who notified the police, or his family, about the stabbing. Lewiston Police Chief William Welch said agencies were called to Bartlett Street by a family member who said they were caring for an injured person.

“We got there, and (Lessard) was not doing too well,” said Welch. Lessard, a longtime resident of Lewiston, was well-known to police, the chief added.

Little was made public about Hairston or his alleged motive, and police remain tight-lipped on the details of their investigation. When asked about the murder weapon during a Friday morning news conference, McDonough replied, “We’re assuming it’s a knife.”

Police said they caught up with Hairston walking on Ash Street shortly after the stabbing, after receiving a description from people inside the apartment. He was reportedly alone, although police are interested in hearing from anyone who had contact with Hairston late Thursday or early Friday.

Hairston is a former Lewiston High School student who stopped attending classes in October, according to Principal Gus LeBlanc. “I don’t really know a lot about him,” said LeBlanc. “He did participate in athletics, which were most of my dealings with him.”

LeBlanc did recall meeting with Hairston about spotty attendance, which was the extent of any behavior-related issues during his time at LHS. “We had no behavioral experience with him at all,” the principal said. “I don’t think he was a problem at school.”

Hairston did play varsity football for LHS as a running back and also participated in youth league football in Lewiston. A person answering the phone at his grandmother’s residence on Park Street in Lewiston hung up.

Welch noted “we’ve had some contacts with (Hairston),” but declined to comment further. A check of his driving record revealed convictions for illegal transportation of liquor and an indefinite suspension for failing to pay fines.

The victim, Lessard, was a burly roofer and former steelworker who lived in the Bartlett Street apartment up until recently, according to his nephew. The apartment was inhabited by Lessard’s wife, Pauline, and his teenage daughter from a previous relationship.

Lessard also has two sons: Dustin and Rick Jr., his nephew said.

Stephen Lessard said his father’s brother, who worked for Stephen’s roofing company, attracted trouble, especially when drinking. “He was a good guy, but when he’d get to drinking, he’d be a different person,” said Stephen. “He’d been stabbed before.”

Police declined to elaborate on the drug connection to Lessard’s death, although Stephen Lessard said his uncle has had issues with illicit drug users, and drug dealers, in the recent past. Rick didn’t use drugs, said Stephen, but did become aggressive when under the influence of alcohol. Lessard had a lengthy criminal record, including a number of disorderly conduct and assault convictions.

In January, Lessard was indicted on charges of aggravated assault, criminal mischief, burglary and violating conditions of release stemming from the shooting on Pownal Road. Stephen Lessard said his uncle, intoxicated, had gone to Auburn to find his wife, Pauline, who was at the residence.

The homeowner, Matthew Hearn, shot Lessard in the leg. Hearn was never charged. At the time, police said the altercation was related to domestic violence, and Rick and Pauline Lessard’s impending, and acrimonious, divorce.

Stephen Lessard said Rick and Pauline, who had been married for about a decade, did have their marital difficulties. They were an explosive couple, said Stephen, and the family had warned Rick about going back to her. Last July, she was arrested for a domestic violence assault at the Bartlett Street apartment.

In October, it was Richard’s turn to be arrested for assault at the apartment. Stephen Lessard said he bailed his uncle out of jail, and he moved into an apartment on Wood Street in Lewiston with a friend.

About a week ago, Stephen said, his uncle went back to live with Pauline.

“My father always thought somebody would end up killing him,” Stephen said.