An Exeter man accused of assisting in the homicide of a man last year was granted a bail $99,000 lower than originally set because of a severe medical condition.
Holden Melvin, 32, received a $100,000 bail in November in Penobscot County Superior Court. Judge Bruce Mallonee lowered Melvin’s bond on Wednesday “with enormous reluctance” to $1,000 cash with severe restrictions.
Melvin is one of five people charged in the killing of Dylan Caruso, 27, who was last seen Sept. 30, 2024, on lower Ohio Street in Bangor. His body was found in a wooded area in Exeter on Oct. 23, 2024.
Melvin previously pleaded not guilty to one count each of felony murder and hindering apprehension or prosecution, a Class B felony. Felony murder is when the death of someone is caused as a “reasonably foreseeable consequence” while committing, or attempting to commit, another crime, according to Maine law.
Under the new bail, Melvin must stay inside his mother’s house in Milo except to leave the property for medical and legal appointments, but his mother must accompany him.
Melvin was granted the significantly lower bail because of serious medical concerns that Mallonee said he was not sure would be adequately addressed in the Penobscot County Jail.
“With enormous reluctance, I am going to grant this motion,” Mallonee said. “This is a terrible crime and of course Mr. Melvin is entitled to a trial, and we don’t know whether he will be found to be responsible for anything at this point. But he’s being held because there is evidence of his substantial participation in some really terrible crimes.”
David Bate, Melvin’s attorney, asked for bail to be lowered because Melvin needs a heart valve replaced and the jail has been unable to provide the medical care needed. Melvin had an echocardiogram in February but the jail has been unable to get him an appointment with a cardiologist to review the test results, Bate said.
Melvin has been complaining of chest pain since he was arrested in late October, including a stabbing pain behind his sternum that worsens with deep breaths, Bate said.
The jail is responsible for caring for everyone in custody and there is no evidence it cannot, but “common sense intrudes” when thinking about the sheer number of people who need medical attention, Mallonee said.
Bate said he was not alleging that the jail has been negligent but Melvin has been complaining about severe chest pain and he has been told before he needs valve replacement surgery.
That “sounds like a time bomb,” Bate said.
“Being accused of a crime is not supposed to put a person in fear or jeopardy of dreadful medical consequences, and it sounds as though that is the situation that Mr. Melvin is in,” Mallonee said.
The bail was reduced despite concerns from Assistant Attorney General Bud Ellis. The severity of Melvin’s medical issues should bring him to the top of the list for care, Ellis said.
“It is the obligation of the jail, the obligation of the state, to tend to his medical needs and our position is they should continue doing that,” Ellis said.
Melvin’s family will have to pool money together to reach the $1,000 bail, Bate said. It had not been posted at time of publication.
The rest of Mevlin’s bail conditions include no possession of illegal substances, marijuana and alcohol. He is also not allowed to have contact with the four other people accused of being involved in Caruso’s slaying.
Kenneth Creamer, 36, of Exeter pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of intentional or knowing murder, aggravated trafficking of fentanyl and aggravated trafficking of cocaine. He was denied bail.
Dylan Boyce, 31, of Exeter pleaded not guilty to one felony count of intentional or knowing murder and two counts of tampering with a witness or informant, which are Class C felonies. He is serving an unrelated sentence in the Somerset County Jail.
Dylan Belanger, 31, of Corinth pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of hindering apprehension or prosecution and tampering with a witness or informant. He has not posted his $100,000 bail.
Samantha McCullough, 38, of Bangor pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of hindering apprehension or prosecution and tampering with a witness or informant. She has posted bail.
Caruso was allegedly shot in Coe Park in Bangor before his body was moved to Exeter. The case is scheduled for a jury trial in October 2026.
