Published December 22, 2004

NEWPORT — A Maryland juvenile was arraigned here Tuesday on two charges of manslaughter arising out of a Westmore accident this summer that claimed the lives of two teenagers.

Charles Myer of Chevy Chase, Maryland, who turned 15 on November 26, pled innocent to both charges at an arraignment in District Court.

Judge Dennis Pearson released him into the custody of his mother with the understanding that a $2,500 appearance bond would be posted by the end of the day.

Mr. Myer was released on conditions that say he may reside in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Vermont while the case is pending.  The court gave him permission to go travel and stay in Colorado Springs, Colorado, during the Christmas holiday.

State Police Trooper Sean Selby says in his affidavit that police received a late afternoon call on August 24 that a silver sports car with out-of-state plates was being driven in a careless and negligent manner on VT 5A near Willoughby’s North Beach.

A motorist allegedly told the trooper that the vehicle had passed him, doing about 70 mph in a 35 mph zone.  He said there were two or three teenage boys in the car and that, according to the affidavit, he was afraid they were going to be killed or kill someone else.

About 15 minutes after the call to police, Trooper Selby learned that a car had hit the ledges near Devil’s Rock.

At the scene, police found the car, a 1994 Toyota Celica, on its hood.  Inside, the affidavit continues, they located two deceased teenage boys, Philip Leno, 17, of Orleans and Norman Woolard, 16, of Westmore.  Near the guardrails next to the car, the trooper located Mr. Myer, who allegedly told police he was driving.

According to the affidavit, a witness told police he was driving south of 5A when a boy with a red shirt flagged him down.  The boy allegedly told him:

“I’m 14 years old, and I just got in an accident and I’m hurt and shouldn’t have been driving.”

Police suspect that the car was traveling in excess of 70 mph when the accident occurred.

Police further allege that Mr. Myer did not have a license at the time.

Mr. Myer was represented in court Tuesday by St. Johnsbury attorney David Sleigh.