Prosecutors say suspect in Biddeford murder was dealing in counterfeit drugs

On By Karl

What started as a phony drug deal ended in the death of a Biddeford man last month, prosecutors said in court Wednesday morning.

Linda Lambert appears in York County Superior Court via Zoom on Wednesday. Screenshot from Zoom hearing

Gene Dares, 46, shot and killed on the night of Sept. 27 after encountering Garret Labonte, 45, and Linda Lambert, 56, of Biddeford. The two He was arrested on Monday night. Although court documents detailing the murder are still secret from the public, attorneys revealed some of the events leading up to Dares’ death during Lambert’s initial appearance in York County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Lambert attended the hearing via Zoom from the York County Jail, where he was held on $250,000 cash bail and was ordered not to contact Labonte. He faces felony murder and robbery charges.

Labonte also faces felony murder and robbery charges, as well as premeditated murder. He is being held in jail without bail and his first hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Under Maine law, a person is guilty of felony murder if he or she causes death while committing or attempting to commit a serious crime, such as robbery, theft, or kidnapping. Murder requires a minimum prison sentence of 25 years, and murder a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Both suspects have a long criminal history dating back more than 25 years, according to State Identification Bureau records.

Labonte was found guilty of felony counts of assault, disorderly conduct, theft, and violating conditions of release, as well as drug trafficking and theft by deception. Lambert was convicted of misdemeanor charges such as assault, trespassing and burglary, as well as felony charges of illegal drug possession.

Lambert facilitated a meeting between Labonte and Dares, Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Ackerman said Wednesday. Ackerman said the Dares had been “at loggerheads” with each other for a long time. He said Labonte repeatedly expressed his intention to kill Dares.

Investigators found that Lambert sent Labonte a text message informing him that Dares was five minutes away from his home on Foss Street and that he was riding there on an electric bike to buy cocaine. When Dares arrived, there was a confrontation, he was shot and fell to the ground, Ackerman said.

First responders said they found Dares with his pockets turned inside out and a backpack mostly empty except for his drug supplies. He died at the scene.

The gun with which Dares was shot was later found in the Saco River. Ackerman said Labonte used the gun to kill Dares after Lambert bought it from Cabela’s because he was prohibited from owning a firearm.

Lambert’s attorney, Joseph Mekonis, argued that Lambert was merely a witness to the crime, not an accomplice.

Lambert called 911 when Dares was shot outside his home, Mekonis said. He said Labonte was honest in interviews with investigators when he said he wanted to kill Dares.

“You would have to be a determined criminal with really, really poor thinking to trap this guy Garret Labonte in front of his house,” Mekonis said. “It is a pure coincidence that Ms. Lambert and Mr. Labonte are friends who use drugs. Mr. Labonte, if it was him, acted independently.”

He asked that Lambert’s bail be reduced to $5,000 with a curfew if he is released from jail. The judge rejected this request.