FARMINGTON — A Berwick man who has a long criminal history according to prosecutors denied Friday that he was a fugitive from justice in District Court.

A judge ordered Jeremiah Grant, 33, to be held without bail on the fugitive charge and to have a competency evaluation.

Grant is accused of abducting his 1-year-old son from a residence in New Hampshire and then leading police in Franklin County on a chase through a section of Farmington and the back roads of Strong and New Vineyard with his son, Milachi, in the car early Friday.

Somersworth, N.H., police issued an amber alert on Thursday for the missing child, who lives in Somersworth with his mother.

According to the alert that was canceled Friday, a felony warrant charging kidnapping was issued for Grant.

Farmington police arrested Grant on a charge of being a fugitive from justice and also charged him on a charge of operating while suspended or revoked under another license, Cote said.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Department arrested him on felony charges of eluding an officer, aggravated reckless conduct and endangering the welfare of a child. 

A conviction on the aggravated reckless conduct charge carries up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Farmington police officer Darin Gilbert spotted the car connected to the alert on Fairbanks Road, also known as Route 4, at about 1:25 a.m. Friday. Gilbert confirmed the child was in the car, but Grant sped off toward Strong during the stop, Farmington deputy police Chief Shane Cote said in a release.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas Zecher, who was in the area, took off after the car. County Cpl. Nate Bean and Gilbert were also in pursuit. Maine State Police were involved as well.

As the car headed into Strong, speeds approached 75 mph, Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. said.

The vehicle traveled the back roads of Strong before running over a spike mat set up by Farmington police on Route 27 in New Vineyard, police said. 

The child was found safe, removed from the car and brought to Farmington Police Department, where his mother was going to be.

Grant was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington to be medically and behaviorally evaluated before being taken to the jail, Nichols said.

Grant made an initial appearance in court Friday afternoon.

Assistant District Attorney Claire Andrews read off a lengthy criminal history in New Hampshire dating back to 1995 that included a 2010 conviction of robbery and a 2011 conviction of sexual assault, she said. He also jumped bail in 2010, she said.

Defense lawyer Christopher Berryment said he spoke with Grant but questioned whether he fully comprehended what was being said. He suggested that a competency evaluation be done.

Andrews requested Grant be held without bail on the fugitive charge until New Hampshire police can extradite him. She said the Maine charges would have to be dealt with prior to New Hampshire police taking him back to that state.

Judge Lance Walker set Grant’s bail on the Maine charges at $3,000 cash. He also ordered Grant to be held without bail on the fugitive charge.

Berryment agreed to the bail as long as it can be reviewed once a defense attorney is appointed to the case.

Walker ordered Grant to have no contact with his son. 

Grant is listed as a 10-year registrant on the Maine Sex Offender Registry, according to the registry.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net 

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