CHINA -- More than a half dozen area men and women are facing charges in connection with a July party that destroyed part of a dairy farm's alfalfa crop.

Trooper Shawn Porter of the Maine State Police has issued summonses to seven people over the past few weeks. Porter said Monday that he still has two summonses to issue. He hopes to complete the process within the next several days.

The charges stem from an overnight party and mud run July 11 that destroyed several acres of alfalfa at Two Loons Farms, an organic dairy farm owned by Spencer Aitel and his wife, Paige Tyson. In addition to beer bottles, cans and broken glass, the party goers burned part of the crop with a bonfire.

Worst of all, Aitel said at the time, were acres of deep ruts left by four-wheel-drive vehicles being used in an impromptu mud run.

"They did quite a racetrack effect through the field," Aitel said. "We ended up with a truck in the middle of the field, abandoned there."

That truck led Trooper Porter to 20-year-old Damien Staples, of Oakland.

"His vehicle was the one broken down in the field when I got there," Porter said. "He was the first one I talked to."

The subsequent investigation, which involved dozens of interviews, revealed that word of the party had spread even outside the state.

"They said there was 100 to 150 kids there, and parking was all over the place," Porter said.

Staples and Kyle Macklin and Books Dow, both 21 of Windsor, David Belanger, 20 of Windsor, and Michael Davis, 18 of Weeks Mills, were each charged with criminal mischief for allegedly taking part in the mud run, Porter said.

The two remaining summonses Porter will serve also will charge criminal mischief, he said.

Natalie Corbin, 21, of Windsor, was charged with furnishing liquor to minors.

"She's the one that brought the kegs," Porter said. "She purchased two kegs and other alcohol."

Daniel Haiss, 21, of Vassalboro, organized the party, Porter said. Haiss, who lives near the party scene, was charged with furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol.

"Dan (Haiss is) the one that invited them and said it was his property," Porter said. "It wasn't his property. It was someone else's property they destroyed."

Haiss posted directions to the party and other instructions on his page at the social networking Web site, My Space, Porter said.

"It left a good trail of all the information," he said.

Nearly everyone who accepted Haiss's open invitation believed he owned the field, Porter said. A couple of party-goers, after learning they played a role in destroying a valuable crop, have saved toward restitution, Porter said. Most of the suspects cooperated with the investigation, Porter said.

"Almost all of them felt bad," he said. "These kids, most of them, were invited to a place they honestly thought was (Haiss's). Almost everyone of them I talked to said, 'I can't believe it wasn't his property.' It's just unfortunate."

Aitel said Monday he had been told about the charges, but had not followed the investigation closely.

He has had no direct contact from any of those charged and, to date, has received no restitution from anyone at the party.

"We've been right out straight trying to farm and keep our heads above water," Aitel said.

The seeding is nearly gone on the portion of alfalfa trampled during the party, Aitel said. That means the crop is unlikely to return and will have to be replaced.

Replacing the crop will cost money, which is in short supply around most dairy farms these days due to depressed market prices, Aitel said.

"I hear a lot of support from people, which is good," Aitel said. "It's brought to light some of the concerns of the farming industry in the state. That's always a good thing."

Craig Crosby--623-3811, ext. 433

ccrosby@centralmaine.com