PARIS — One of two men charged in a double homicide in Rumford in August told police he was paid $2,000 by the other suspect to kill the victims.

According to a police affidavit, Eric Hamel, 19, of Mexico said Richard Moulton, 20, of Rumford offered the money and gave Hamel a pair of latex gloves to use in killing Victor Reed Sheldon, 22, and Roger Leroy Day Jr., 48, on the evening of Aug. 3. The men were shot to death in the living room of Day’s home at 244 Pine St.

Hamel and Moulton both pleaded not guilty Tuesday at their arraignment in Oxford County Superior Court.

According to the affidavit of Detective John Hainey of the Maine State Police, Moulton told police during an interview that he was upset with Sheldon because he had assaulted his girlfriend, Gayla, who was Sheldon’s estranged wife, about a month before the murders. Moulton said Hamel had told him he also disliked Sheldon.

Hamel told police that he met with Moulton several times to plan the murders, and that Moulton was afraid Sheldon would get custody of the children he had with Gayla.

Moulton said he went to Day’s house on the evening of the murders so that Hamel could “scare” Day and Sheldon, and went into the bathroom when he saw Hamel’s silhouette outside. Moulton and a witness who was outside the house at the time both said they heard three shots.

Hamel said he stole a handgun, which had five rounds of ammunition, from a neighbor’s house. He said he and Moulton had originally planned for Moulton to be shot in the leg to make it appear that he wasn’t involved, but Moulton told Hamel to flee the house instead. Hamel buried the gun in the woods off Oak Street, and later helped investigators find the weapon.

Police sought warrants to search computers seized from the homes of Hamel and Moulton, and Hamel’s residence, for any evidence related to the acquisition of a weapon or the planning or execution of the murders. Investigators also submitted a warrant to search the servers and business offices of MySpace to look into Hamel’s account. Detective Lucas Hare stated in one warrant that “e-mail, chat, or other forms of electronic communications will be present on the suspect’s MySpace website that may pertain to the planning of the murder of Victor Sheldon or Roger Day.”

Sheldon had been splitting his time between his new girlfriend’s residence and Day’s house. He had been charged with domestic assault against Gayla at Moulton’s apartment, but the charge was dismissed the day he was killed.

Hamel’s defense lawyer, George Hess, and Moulton’s lawyer, Ron Hoffman, each asked for 60 days to file motions in the case. Clifford has granted motions from both lawyers requesting funds for a private investigator, as well as a motion from Benson requesting that both Hamel and Moulton submit finger and palm prints.

Following his arraignment, Moulton attended a private meeting with Hoffman, Benson and Maine State Police detectives.

If convicted, Hamel and Moulton could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison on each murder charge.
No trial date was set for either on Tuesday. 

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Richard Moulton awaits his arraignment on murder charges Tuesday morning in Oxford County Superior Court.

Eric Hamel, left, stands with his lawyer, George Hess, during Hamel’s arraignment in Oxford County Superior Court on Tuesday.