What happened inside an apartment at 73 Pine Street in Lewiston on a Monday afternoon in May reads like something out of a crime thriller — except it was real, and the victim barely made it out.
A 37-year-old man was lured to the apartment, restrained, beaten severely, burned, and threatened with a firearm. Three people now face serious felony charges. And one of them has a criminal record that stretches back years.
Inside 73 Pine Street
On the afternoon of May 12, Lewiston police received a report of a man in distress inside an apartment at 73 Pine Street. When officers entered, they found a 37-year-old man who had clearly been through an ordeal.
The victim had been:
- Lured to the apartment under circumstances that haven't been publicly detailed
- Tied up and restrained once inside
- Severely beaten, sustaining injuries consistent with a prolonged assault
- Burned, suffering burns in addition to the beating injuries
- Threatened with a firearm during the attack
He was transported to the hospital. Despite the severity of what he endured, police described his injuries as non-life-threatening. His name has not been released.
What motivated the attack remains unclear. No source has detailed the relationship between the victim and his alleged attackers, or what led to him being targeted.
The First Two Arrests
Two suspects were taken into custody the same day as the incident:
Zachery Paradis, 44
Paradis faces the heaviest slate of charges among the three suspects:
- Kidnapping
- Elevated aggravated assault
- Aggravated assault
- Criminal restraint
- Criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon
- Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person
That last charge is significant. It means Paradis was legally barred from having a gun — typically due to a prior felony conviction — and had one anyway. The fact that a firearm was used to threaten the victim while Paradis was a prohibited person adds a federal dimension to what's already a serious state case.
Jennifer Dionne, 42
Dionne faces five charges:
- Kidnapping
- Elevated aggravated assault
- Aggravated assault
- Criminal restraint
- Criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon
Her charges mirror Paradis's with the exception of the firearm possession count. Both were booked by Lewiston police and their mugshots were released publicly.
A Third Suspect Emerges
The day after the initial arrests, police picked up a third individual connected to the Pine Street attack.
Nicholas Coy, 31, of Yarmouth
Coy was arrested on Wednesday, May 14, and charged with:
- Kidnapping
- Aggravated assault
- Criminal restraint
- Criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon
What makes Coy's arrest particularly notable is his background. According to court records, Coy has a lengthy criminal history in Lewiston that includes prior charges for gun possession and robbery. He was also arrested earlier in 2026 on an arson charge connected to a fire on Grove Street in Lewiston the previous December.
In other words, this isn't someone who was on the periphery of the criminal justice system. Coy was well known to law enforcement before the Pine Street incident.
The Charges, Explained
For readers unfamiliar with Maine's criminal code, the charges in this case are among the most serious available:
- Kidnapping — Restricting someone's movements by force or threat, typically a Class A crime in Maine carrying up to 30 years in prison
- Elevated aggravated assault — An assault that causes serious bodily injury or involves extreme cruelty, also a Class A crime
- Criminal restraint — Holding someone against their will without lawful authority
- Criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon — Using a weapon to place someone in fear of imminent bodily injury
- Possession of a firearm by a prohibited person — A federal and state offense for anyone barred from gun ownership
The combination of kidnapping, assault, and firearms charges means the suspects are facing potential decades of incarceration if convicted.
Questions That Remain Unanswered
Several key details about this case haven't been made public:
- What was the motive? No source has explained why the victim was targeted or what prompted the attack.
- What was the relationship between the victim and the suspects? It's unclear whether they knew each other, had a prior dispute, or if this was connected to something else entirely.
- Who called police? The report described a man in distress, but how that distress was detected from outside the apartment hasn't been explained.
- Will there be additional charges or suspects? Police described the investigation as ongoing at the time of the last update.
A Disturbing Pattern in Lewiston
The Pine Street kidnapping happened during the same stretch of spring 2026 that saw multiple shootings involving teenagers, a group assault caught on video, and an overall spike in violent crime across Lewiston.
While this case is different in nature — a targeted attack inside a private residence rather than street-level gun violence — it adds to a broader picture of a city dealing with an unusually concentrated period of serious crime. For residents, the effect is cumulative. Each new headline reinforces the sense that something has shifted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the victim killed?
No. The 37-year-old victim was hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening, despite having been beaten and burned.
How many people were arrested?
Three: Zachery Paradis (44), Jennifer Dionne (42), and Nicholas Coy (31, of Yarmouth). All face kidnapping and assault charges.
What is the most serious charge?
Kidnapping and elevated aggravated assault are both Class A crimes in Maine, carrying potential sentences of up to 30 years in prison.
Was a gun involved?
Yes. The victim was threatened with a firearm during the attack. Zachery Paradis was additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Why was the victim targeted?
The motive has not been publicly disclosed. Police have not detailed the relationship between the victim and the suspects.
Is the investigation still open?
Yes. As of the most recent update, Lewiston police described the investigation as ongoing.
The Bigger Picture
Cases like the Pine Street kidnapping are the kind that stick with a community. The deliberateness of it — luring someone to a location, restraining them, and subjecting them to prolonged violence — is different from a spontaneous altercation. It suggests planning, intent, and a willingness to inflict serious harm.
The three arrests happened quickly, which speaks to effective police work. But the questions that linger — about motive, about how someone with Coy's history was in a position to participate in this kind of crime, about what could have prevented it — are the ones that matter for the long term.
Lewiston residents with information about this case are encouraged to contact the Lewiston Police Department.
Dirty Lew will continue to follow this case as it moves through the courts.
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