Farmington businessman indicted on weapons charge

FARMINGTON — A local businessman is accused of striking an apartment building with gunfire while shooting at waterfowl near his trout-stocked pond.

Clayton King, 71, of 1013 Acorn Lane was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury Thursday on a felony charge of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon. Police say a stray bullet hit a Deer Crossing Apartments building on Sept. 3 at 264 Titcomb Hill Road.

King said Friday he had not known about the indictment, which is a formal charge. He declined comment.

According to the indictment, King “did recklessly create a substantial risk of serious bodily injury” to witnesses “with the use of a dangerous weapon, a firearm.”

King is the chairman of the Farmington Planning Board and owns C.J.’s Appliance at 279 Titcomb Hill Road with his wife, Joyce. He created a Fish N Play pond last year at 2974 Titcomb Hill Road, across from the appliance store. The pond is stocked with hundreds of rainbow trout.

King is alleged to have been shooting at waterfowl on his pond while people were sitting outside Deer Crossing. They said they heard a bullet go past them and a witness saw a bullet “impact” the side of the apartment building, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins said Friday.

Deer Crossing offers affordable housing for older people and people with disabilities.

Farmington police received a firearm violation complaint and it was turned over to the Maine Warden Service, a police secretary said last year.

Maine Warden Service representatives were not immediately available Friday.

Wardens recovered a .22 caliber bullet that went through the siding on the building, Robbins said.

No one was hurt.

[email protected]