Update: April 23: WARREN — The three women who were arrested by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) following a month-long investigation into illegal drug trafficking at a residence in Warren, made their initial appearance in Knox County Court before Judge Patricia Worth April 19.

Denise Richards, 63, of Warren, was charged with four counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, two counts of unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. At the court hearing, Richards’ bail was set at $50,000 cash.

Marissa Widdecomb, 34, of Union, was charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs and one count of trafficking in scheduled drugs. Widdecomb’s bail was set at $10,000 cash.

Claire Turner, 33, of Warren, was charged with unlawful possession of scheduled drugs. Turner’s bail was set at $500 cash.

According to the affidavit filed in court by the MDEA, on April 1, a confidential informant was sent to the residence to purchase cocaine base from Richards who took two bags of the drug from a case believed to be originally used to store eyeglasses. On April 3, the informant purchased fentanyl and cocaine base again from Richards at the same location. Widdecomb was in the kitchen cooking crack cocaine on the stove while the informant was at the residence.

On April 17 a search warrant was issued to the MDEA and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office assisted. During the search, Turner was also located inside the residence. Agents found new and unused packaging material commonly used to package illegal drugs and digital scales to weigh the drugs. A bag was found with a white chunky crystalline substance that appeared to be methamphetamine along with fentanyl.

A loaded .380 handgun was found in the living room.

Police said that Richards admitted that she had sold illegal drugs from the residence. Turner admitted to using fentanyl.

The three women will appear again in court June 13, 2024, for their dispositional conferences.

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency announced the arrest of three people during the execution of a search warrant at a residence on Eastern Road in Warren following a month-long investigation into illegal drug trafficking from the residence. Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and a loaded handgun were seized during the search.

Beginning in March, agents from the MDEA Mid-Coast District Task Force conducted an investigation into illegal drug trafficking being conducted by Denise Richards, of Warren, after the suspected overdose death of a 52-year-old woman that occurred at Richard’s Eastern Road residence on March 5, 2024.

During the month-long investigation, agents conducted undercover purchases of fentanyl from Richards and another person, Marissa Widdecomb, at Richard’s residence at 1094 Eastern Road, Warren, according to an April 19 Maine Dept. of Public Safety news release.

On Wednesday afternoon, April 17, 2024, MDEA agents from the Mid-Coast and South-Central District Task Forces, along with deputies of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at Richards Eastern Road residence. 

As a result of the search agents seized 30 grams of methamphetamine, 12 grams of fentanyl, and a loaded .380 caliber handgun from residence.

Richards, Widdecomb, and Claire Turner, who were all at the residence at the time of the search warrant, were arrested without incident and transported to the Knox County Jail. 

At the time of this investigation, to include undercover drug purchases, Denise Richards was free on a “Stay of Execution of Sentence” after she entered a plea of guilty to Unlawful Trafficking in Schedule Drugs in December of 2023. Richards was subsequently charged with Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule Drugs as part of an investigation into the overdose death of a 42-year-old Rockland woman that occurred in July of 2021 in Rockland. Richards had a prior 2012 conviction for Unlawful Trafficking in Schedule Drugs at the time of this incident.

Richards was sentenced on March 28, 2024, in Knox Unified Court to 7 years in prison, all but 5 months suspended, to be followed by 3 years of probation for her December 2023 guilty plea. The court granted a “Stay of Execution of Sentence” until May 10, 2024, when Richards would be required to report to the Knox County Jail to serve her 5-month jail sentence. Additional charges will be reviewed related to Richards violating court conditions set while on her “Stay of Execution of Sentence”.

Richards, Widdecomb, and Turner were scheduled to appear in Knox Unified Court on Friday, April 19.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Assisting MDEA in this investigation were representatives from Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Corrections Officers, Rockland Police, and the Town of Warren Ambulance Service.

ARRESTED:

Denise Richards (63) of Warren for, 5 counts, Aggravated Unlawful Trafficking in Schedule Drugs (Fentanyl & Methamphetamine) Possession of a Firearm by A Prohibited Person. Bail set at $25,000 cash and being held by State Probation and Parole.

Marissa Widdecomb (34) of Union for, 2 Counts, Aggravated Unlawful Trafficking in Schedule Drugs (Fentanyl). Arrest Warrant charging Failure to Appear in Court/ Aggravated Unlawful Trafficking in Schedule Drugs. No bail Set.

Claire Turner (33) of Warren for, Unlawful Possession of Schedule Drugs (Fentanyl). No bail, held by State Probation and Parole.

The MDEA stands committed to working with all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners in order to continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations that are attempting to distribute illicit drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine in the State of Maine.

If you or someone you know suffers from substance use disorder, please call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 for a list of resources available in your area.

If you have information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement office closest to you or by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or by calling the MDEA tip line at 1-800-452-6457.