AUBURN — The only adult charged in the so-called Turner “fight club” case made an initial appearance in Androscoggin County Superior Court on Thursday morning.

Andrew Harrington Jr., 18, of Greene was charged last month with burglary in connection with an illegal prize-fighting ring operating at Leavitt Area High School in Turner. He appeared with his lawyer, George Hess of Lewiston, and was released on personal recognizance bail.

Harrington is scheduled to appear in Superior Court on May 26 to enter a plea in the case.

Maine State Police also have charged two juveniles, ages 16 and 17, in connection with the illegal fight club. Both are students at Leavitt.

The cases against the juveniles will be presented to the Auburn Juvenile Community Corrections for review and prosecution.

According to Maine State Police Trooper Michael Chavez, Harrington faces the most serious charge of burglary because “he was in a place he had no right to be … and committed the crime of unlawful prize-fighting.”

Police conducted two investigations into the illegal fighting, one in 2010 and one in January. The youngest of the three charged, age 16, created a Facebook page for the club and posted video on YouTube highlighting the fights. That teen, according to police, is believed to have boxed at least 10 other Leavitt students.

The online images from the Facebook posting have been removed since the charges were filed and, according to police, no one appeared to be injured during the fights. All of the students who participated in the boxing told police they didn’t realize what they were doing was illegal, Chavez said, and that the fights were intended to be friendly encounters. Police have said no money was involved in the fights.

According to Sun Journal archives, Harrington and at least one other defendant had some amateur boxing training with Joey Gamache Sr., and were listed to appear at a 2008 match at the Multi-Purpose Center in Lewiston.

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