Maine man pleads guilty to murder charge in OS drug deal that ended in death

A 32-year-old Maine man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated robbery in the death of an Oliver Springs man after a drug deal in May 2011.

Scott Benjamin Pike, of Lewiston, Maine, entered the guilty pleas in Anderson County Criminal Court on Friday, January 29.

Pike received a 20-year sentence on the second-degree murder charge, a Class A felony, and a 12-year sentence on the aggravated robbery charge, a Class B felony. There is no probation on either count, according to court records. The sentences will run concurrently. He will receive credit for time served.

Pike was indicted on a first-degree murder charge on February 7, 2012, by the Anderson County Grand Jury. Also indicted were Ronny Blake Hamrick of Oliver Springs and Tristin Jane Dayon of Lewiston, Maine. A first-degree murder charge could include a premeditated killing or an unlawful death that occurred during a robbery or attempted robbery, according to the indictments.

The three defendants were also indicted on one count each of aggravated robbery for violently taking pills from the victim, Paul Cuthbertson, of Oliver Springs, on May 5, 2011, and either using a deadly weapon or causing him serious bodily injury.

As part of the plea deal last week, Pike waived his right to a jury trial, and his first-degree murder charge was amended to second-degree murder.

In an affidavit filed May 9, 2011, Oliver Springs Police Department Sergeant David Laxton said Cuthbertson had been stabbed by someone he did not know but who was later identified as Pike. Pike had agreed to buy narcotics from Cuthbertson, the affidavit said, but Pike instead pulled out a knife outside a home on Green Acres Lane and “told Paul Cuthbertson to give him the pills or he was going to stick him.”

“The victim, Paul Cuthbertson, told Scott Pike to calm down,” the affidavit said. “Scott Pike told the victim a second time to give him the pills, or he was going to stick him.

“It is unknown if pills were transferred,” the affidavit said. “A struggle then ensued between Scott Pike and Paul Cuthbertson, where Ronny Hamrick stated he saw Scott Pike moving his arm in a stabbing motion and Paul Cuthbertson fall into the bushes in front of his home.”

Pike then jumped into the front passenger seat of a gray Ford van, telling Hamrick to drive away, according to the affidavit.

“Scott Pike then advised to both parties in the van (Hamrick and Dayon) that he messed up and had in fact stabbed Paul Cuthbertson,” the affidavit said.

Laxton responded to the stabbing on Green Acres Lane in Oliver Springs at 10:06 p.m. May 5, 2011. Cuthbertson was pronounced dead at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge about one hour later. He had six stab wounds in his chest area, Laxton said.

“Paul Cuthbertson was killed by the conduct of Scott Pike in the perpetration of or attempted perpetration of a robbery,” Laxton said in the affidavit.

The cases against Hamrick and Dayon are still pending, according to Anderson County court records.

Laxton’s affidavit was based on statements by Cuthbertson, Cuthbertson’s wife, a neighbor, Hamrick, and a witness at Granny’s Laundry, where Dayon, Hamrick, and Pike allegedly met Cuthbertson and where Pike agreed to buy narcotics from Cuthbertson, court records said.

Pike was represented by defense attorney Mart Cizek. Emily Faye Abbott was the prosecutor. Donald R. Elledge is the Criminal Court judge.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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