Raymond Lester: Portland man gets 48 years in prison for running over 'great mother' and GF Nicole Mokeme with his car in Acadia National Park
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
PORTLAND, MAINE: Raymond Lester, a 37-year-old man from Portland, Maine, who ran over his girlfriend with a vehicle in Acadia National Park and subsequently fled to Mexico, was sentenced to 48 years in prison for murder on Thursday, January 1.
In November, Lester was convicted of the hit-and-run crash at the Schoodic Institute in Winter Harbor that resulted in the death of his girlfriend, Nicole Mokeme. Additional information about the hit-and-run crash emerged during the recent court hearing.
Who was Nicole Mokeme?
According to Fox News, the victim, Nicole Mokeme was serving as the creative director of Rise and Shine Youth Retreat, an organization providing retreats and programs for Black individuals.
She was also one of the organizers of the ongoing Black Excellence Retreat 2022 when the tragic incident occurred.
According to court documents, Mokeme was last observed near a fire pit in the June 2022 event, and her body was discovered the following day.
Lester was conspicuously absent, but license plate readers recorded his BMW traveling through multiple states, including Georgia and Texas, in the days following the crime. About a month later, Mexican authorities arrested him without incident in Cancun.
What happened in the courtroom?
During Lester's sentencing in Ellsworth, the victim's brother, Victor David, spoke to Justice Robert Murrary, stating, "Nicole was a pillar of her community, a great daughter, and a great mother. The list goes on and on."
David emphasized the impact on affected families, urging the judge to impose a lengthy sentence on Lester, stating, "His taking her life has affected so many lives. I say contain the evil. Make it known to the world that this is not okay."
Mokeme's daughter, stepdaughter, father, and mother also addressed the judge, some through tears, ensuring their voices were heard.
Through her non-profit, Rise and Shine Youth Retreat, Mokeme aimed to enhance the lives of those around her as per Bangordailynews.
Mokeme's mother, Stephanie Kornegay, expressed her daughter's belief in healing everyone, even individuals like Lester, who had a "darkness" within. Kornegay shared that Nicole believed in Raymond's potential for change.
During Lester's jury trial last fall, attendees at the retreat testified that he behaved inappropriately, aggressively, and abusively towards Mokeme in the days leading up to her death.
Witnesses reported instances of Lester drinking vodka, playing loud music, and driving recklessly around the campus during a cookout. Some attendees expressed fear that Lester might harm them with his car.
Testimony about Lester's past incidents, predating the retreat, was not presented to the jury during the trial. However, former girlfriends of Lester informed the Portland Press Herald that he had been physically abusive to them before the relationships ended.
