PARIS — Three men and four women from Rumford, Mexico and Lewiston charged with drug trafficking in the River Valley made their initial appearance in South Paris District Court on Friday.

They were held at the Oxford County Jail on Friday on bail ranging from $500 to $10,000 cash.

Officers with the Rumford and Mexico police departments, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Maine State Police arrested the seven people Wednesday, March 1, in what Rumford Police Chief Stacy Carter and Mexico Police Chief Roy Hodsdon called “the culmination of a monthslong investigation into drug trafficking in the River Valley.”

Those arrested were:

* Randy Aron, 40, of Mexico;

* Jessica Pare, 39, of Mexico;

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* Sean Russell, 38, of Mexico;

* Diane Russell, 37, of Mexico;

* Rhonda Welch, 33, of Rumford;

* Megan Keene, 31, of Rumford; and

* Quinton Joseph, 30, of Lewiston.

All seven were charged with trafficking in crack cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in crack cocaine.

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The drug bust led to the recovery of over 100 grams of crack cocaine, cash and a loaded firearm.

Carter and Hodsdon said more arrests are expected.

During Friday afternoon’s court appearance, Judge Nancy Carlson set Randy Aron’s bail at $10,000 cash.

According to Carter and Hodsdon, Aron was arrested in Mexico, where police seized 88.9 grams of crack cocaine, $4,238 in cash and a loaded firearm.

Sean Russell’s bail was set at $8,000 cash.

Attorney Jeffrey Wilson argued that Russell’s lack of funds, his living situation, and lack of transportation “should alleviate any concerns that he won’t show up for his hearing if he’s bailed out.”

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“We think $500 is more than enough to cover him,” Wilson said.

Assistant District Attorney Richard Beauchesne said that according to the affidavit supporting the arrest, “many (civilian informants) said that Mr. Russell was selling drugs out of his apartment and on the street.”

With Diane Russell, Beauchesne said that the state was also asking for $8,000 cash.

“The reason we’re setting her bail so high is because of the level of her involvement with the case, and due to the violation of her bail conditions from a previous case,” he told Carlson.

Attorney Patrick Nickerson, who was representing Russell, asked for bail to be set at a lower cash amount, or $50,000 in surety, arguing that she would not be able to post the $8,000 cash.

Carlson decided to set bail at $5,000 cash, and approved the possibility of posting $50,000 in surety.

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Bail was set at $5,000 cash for Joseph.

The state originally asked for $10,000 cash bail for Joseph, though his attorney pointed out that Joseph had never been convicted of felonies and would have a place to stay if he were released.

Keene’s bail was set at $1,000 cash, and Pare’s bail was set at $800 cash.

Carlson said that both Keene and Pare could be released on personal recognizance and supervised release.

Bail was set at $500 for Welch, though the state was originally seeking bail in the amount of $8,000 cash.

However, attorney Allen Lobozzo argued that since Welch was a single mother with three children, and had the possibility of retaining her job, bail should be set at a lower amount.

Carlson agreed to set bail for Welch at $500 cash, or personal recognizance and supervised release.

All seven have conferences scheduled for May 24 at Oxford County Superior Court.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net

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