TURNER — Two juveniles and one adult are facing charges in connection with a so-called “fight club” in Turner.

Maine State Police last week charged the three in connection with an illegal fight club at Leavitt Area High School; on Wednesday, police released additional details about the investigation.

According to Trooper Michael Chavez, police conducted two investigations into the club, one in 2010 and one last month. Three have been charged with unlawful fighting, including juveniles ages 16 and 17 who attend Leavitt Area High School.

The third person, Edwin Harrington Jr., 18, of Greene is a former student at Leavitt. He graduated from the district’s adult education program last June.

Harrington faces one charge of unlawful prize fighting and one charge of burglary, “as he was in a place he had no right to be within and committed the crime of unlawful prize fighting,” Chavez said.

He will face both charges in Androscoggin County Superior Court.

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According to Chavez, the 16-year-old suspect created a Facebook page for the club and posted video on YouTube “which highlighted his many fights.”

At one count, according to a YouTube post, the 16-year-old had boxed 10 other Leavitt students. No injuries were documented in any of the fights, Chavez said, and the online images have since been removed.

According to Chavez, when the teens were interviewed, “all involved remarked that they didn’t realize that what they were doing was illegal,” maintaining that the fights were “friendly” and no money was involved.

“Unlawful prize fighting, by definition, is knowingly engaging in, encouraging or (committing) any act to further a premeditated fight without weapons between two or more persons,” Chavez said, and is a Class E misdemeanor.

None of the students involved in the fight club were acting on behalf of a boxing club, contest or licensed exhibition, Chavez said.

According to Sun Journal archives, Harrington and the 16-year-old suspect had trained with Joey Gamache Sr. and were listed to fight lightweight and featherweight rounds, respectively, at a 2008 match scheduled at the Multi-Purpose Center in Lewiston.

Cases against the two juveniles will be presented to the Auburn Juvenile Community Corrections Office for review and prosecution.

Information about Harrington’s initial court appearance was not available Wednesday because the Androscoggin County Superior Court was closed due to a snowstorm.

jmeyer@sunjournal.com


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