SKOWHEGAN— A 31-year-old New Portland man pleaded not guilty to a charge he murdered his neighbor and his former employer in Somerset County Superior Court Friday.

Jeffrey LaGasse was indicted on the charge by a Somerset County grand jury last Friday.

 The indictment states that
LaGasse, “intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Brochu, or
engaged in conduct that manifested a depraved indifference to the value
of human life and which in fact caused the death of Brochu.”

LaGasse was in state custody at the time of the indictment and had previously been interviewed by police about the death of Louise Brochu. 

Brochu, 50, was found dead outside her business, which is off Route 27, near the Kingfield town line,  New England Wood Flooring, in June 2007.

LaGasse is being held without bail pending a
hearing most likely to occur in January 2010, Maine Assistant Attorney
General Andrew Benson said Friday. That hearing is to ask Justice John Nivison
to extinguish LaGasse’s right to bail.
LaGasse has been in custody since November 2007 on an unrelated probation
revocation pertaining to burglary and theft among other charges, and is
not expected to be released until mid January, Benson said.

 LaGasse’s  state-appointed lawyer Jason Jabar, of Waterville, said he hasn’t had a chance to review the
information on the case but knows his client adamantly denies
committing the crime.

LaGasse was taken back to the Maine State Prison in Warren after his arraignment Friday morning.

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