Defendants charged in Halloween-themed hayride crash plead not guilty at 1st court appearance

All three defendants in a fatal Halloween-themed hayride crash in Maine have pleaded not guilty at their first court appearance.

The driver, 55-year-old David Brown of South Paris, and a farm mechanic, 38-year-old Phillip Theberge of Norway, appeared in court Thursday to enter their pleas to reckless conduct.

A Portland attorney represented Harvest Hill Farm of Mechanic Falls, which is charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault, driving to endanger and reckless conduct.

A judge allowed Theberge and Brown to be released on personal recognizance, with no bail conditions. The farm's owner wasn't charged in the case, but the company that owns land where the Gauntlet Haunted Night Ride occurred has filed for bankruptcy.

The October crash killed a teenager and injured more than a dozen passengers.