AUGUSTA -- The man accused in a Pittston home invasion that left a father and daughter seriously injured formally pleaded not guilty today to all eight charges stemming from that event.

Leo R. Hylton, 18, of Augusta was in Kennebec County Superior Court for less than five minutes to be arraigned and enter pleas.

He is charged with four counts of aggravated attempted murder and one count each of attempted murder, robbery, burglary and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Hylton is the only man charged in the May 27 home invasion that left William Guerrette Jr. 48, and his daughter, Nicole, 11, hospitalized with machete injuries.

The aggravated attempted murder charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Details of the police investigation are sealed by order of the court. However, Justice Nancy Mills agreed today to lift the impoundment order only as far as allowing the state to share discovery materials with Hylton's defense attorney Robert Ruffner.

Bail for Hylton continues as $1 million cash.

Hylton, wearing a yellow two-piece Cumberland County jail uniform, responded with a quiet "not guilty" eight times as Mills asked him for his plea to each charge.

Ruffner said afterward that the judged granted an extended period for him to file pleadings and that he expected to be back in court in the fall.

"The state told me they have not completed all their testing and forensics examination," he said.