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

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

Gene Dares, 46, was shot dead the night of Sept. 27 after an encounter with Garret Labonte, 45, and Linda Lambert, 56, of Biddeford. both were arrested monday night. While court documents detailing the homicide are still sealed from the public, attorneys revealed some of the events leading up to Dares’ death at Lambert’s initial appearance in York County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Lambert attended the hearing via Zoom from the York County Jail, where she is being held on $250,000 cash bail and was ordered not to contact Labonte. She faces charges of murder and robbery.

Labonte also faces charges of felony murder and robbery, as well as one count of knowing or intentional murder. He is being held in jail without bail and his initial appearance is scheduled for Thursday.

Under Maine law, a person is guilty of felony murder if the death occurs while committing or attempting to commit a serious crime, such as robbery, theft, or kidnapping. It carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, while murder carries a minimum sentence of 25 years.

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

Labonte has been convicted of misdemeanors, including assault, disorderly conduct, robbery and violation of conditions of release, as well as felonies such as drug trafficking and theft by deception. Lambert has been convicted of misdemeanor assault, burglary and robbery, as well as felony counts of illegal drug possession.

Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Ackerman said Wednesday that Lambert facilitated a meeting between Labonte and Dares, who Ackerman said had “long-standing issues” with each other. He said Labonte expressed his intention to kill Dares several times.

Investigators discovered that Lambert had texted Labonte telling him that Dares was five minutes from his home on Foss Street, where he was riding 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 found Dares with his pockets inside out and a backpack nearly empty except for drug paraphernalia, he said. He died at the scene.

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

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

Mekonis said Lambert called 911 when Dares was shot in front of his home. He said she was honest in interviews with investigators when she said Labonte wanted to kill Dares.

“You have to be a very, very poor decisive criminal to… set this man up against Garret Labonte right in front of (his) house,” Mekonis said. “This is all a coincidence that Ms. Lambert and Mr. Labonte are drug-using friends. Mr. Labonte, if it is him, acted independently.”

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

Copy story link