Three charged after Skowhegan search yields stolen firearms, fentanyl and other illicit drugs, police say

SKOWHEGAN — Three suspects face several charges as part of an investigation that included the search of a Skowhegan apartment where stolen firearms, fentanyl and other illicit drugs were discovered, according to the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office, along with Skowhegan police and representatives of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, searched the apartment on Greenwood Avenue on Wednesday, where they found almost 30 grams of fentanyl, 9 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms and other illicit drugs, according to Sheriff Dale Lancaster.

The sheriff said two rifles and a 12-gauge shotgun were also found at the apartment, along with drug paraphernalia and more than $1,000 in cash.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $5,000, Lancaster said.

Those living at the apartment were identified as Roger Lloyd Jr., 24, and Dakota Merril, 19.

Lloyd was charged with aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and theft by receiving stolen property.

Merril was charged with aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.

Both have court appearances scheduled for March.

“The recovered firearms were reported stolen in November 2021 as a result of a camp break-in in Embden,” Lancaster wrote in a statement released to the news media.

Following the search of the apartment, detectives Thursday interviewed Richard Soroka, 42, of Athens in connection to the stolen firearms. Soroka was later charged with burglary and theft for allegedly having stolen firearms that were seized from the Lloyd residence, according to Lancaster.

Soroka is expected in court in February.

“The drug trafficking charge (for Lloyd and Merril) is elevated due to the amount of fentanyl seized and the presence of a loaded firearm” near the drugs, Lancaster said.