Brunswick man accused of killing neighbor pleads not guilty

Tanner Dostie, 34, of Brunswick entered a not guilty plea Thursday in Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland to a charge of murder in connection with the death of his neighbor, Dennis Blasens. Dostie faces additional charges including elevated aggravated assault, criminal restraint, and tampering with a witness.

The case stems from a confrontation between the two men in their Brunswick neighborhood on May 9, according to court records. Authorities have not publicly detailed the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter.

Judge Marygayl O'Donnell ordered Dostie held without bail, citing concerns about witness tampering that prosecutors raised during the hearing. Dostie's defense attorney argued for bail, contending that his client has no prior criminal history and posed no flight risk.

Dostie is scheduled to appear next in court for a dispositional conference on August 6. If convicted of murder, he faces a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.

The killing of Blasens has unsettled residents in the quiet residential area where both men lived, with neighbors describing the incident as shocking and out of character for the community.