BRIDGTON — An 18-year-old Paris woman accused of manslaughter in a fatal car crash last year entered no plea Monday in Bridgton District Court.

Morgan Kesseli faces charges of manslaughter, elevated aggravated assault, aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and aggravated driving to endanger.

She was driving a Chevrolet Blazer north on the Waterford Road in Harrison on Oct. 21, 2010, when she lost control of it and it crossed the southbound lane and hit trees. Passenger Thomas McLendon, 19, of Oxford was killed and passengers Jacob Hill, who was 20 at the time, and Timothy Coffin, who was 21, were badly hurt, as was Kesseli, who was 17.

Investigators from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Windham Police Department concluded excessive speed was the primary factor in the accident.

At Monday’s hearing, the mother of Jacob Hill asked the court to force Kesseli to avoid her son as part of the bail arrangements. Hill and Kesseli are dating, and his mother, Linda Hill, told the judge “they fight all the time.”

“I don’t want her in my home,” Hill said. The judge said he couldn’t keep her son, who is 21, from seeing Kesseli but added to the conditions that Kesseli should stay out of Hill’s home.

Kesseli’s bail conditions included orders that she live with her parents and have no contact with Timothy Coffin.

Judge Keith Powers allowed her to drive twice a week to classes at Central Maine Community College in Auburn. He said any deviation from a direct drive between her Paris home and the college would constitute a violation of her bail.

Kesseli requested to drive once a week to a class in Paris, but Powers said walking would be possible in that case.

Kesseli has several violations on her driving record, including a conviction for driving 72 mph in a 50 mph zone and failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle.

treaves@sunjournal.com

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