BELFAST — The 16-year-old son of a Troy man, who was found dead March 8 in what the state Medical Examiner earlier this week ruled a homicide, made his first appearance in Belfast District Court April 3.

Colby Hodgdon stands accused of stabbing his father, Steven Hodgdon, 49, on March 7. State Police arrested the teenager in Lewiston April 1 and charged him with murder.

Hodgdon wore a dark blue hoodie Friday afternoon, as he entered the Belfast courthouse, escorted by two Waldo County Sheriff's deputies. He entered no plea in a brief appearance before Justice Patricia Worth.

Worth appointed defense attorneys Aaron Fethke and John Martin to represent the teenager. Martin said the defense plans to file a motion for a competency evaluation.

The court room stood largely empty for the roughly 10-minute hearing, except for Hodgdon's mother, identified only as Ms. Roy. Roy sat directly behind her son as he answered questions, posed by the judge, with an even, steady voice.

Though there was no interaction between Roy and Hodgdon in the courtroom, the two were together in a conference room for more than half an hour before the hearing started.

Hodgdon, who was shackled upon entry, was unshackled at the request of Justice Worth, who noted, "from what I understand the juvenile is safe to be in the courtroom without restraints."

Hodgdon answered in the affirmative when asked whether he would like his charges read, and responded, "Yes, I do," when asked whether he understood he was charged with knowing and intentional murder.

Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea stated she wanted to wait for a juvenile corrections officer to make a recommendation before the court rules on whether Hodgdon can be released from custody. Defense attorneys agreed the matter of review is important, and noted they had already talked to Hodgdon about placements.

Worth also ordered all paperwork filed in the case to be sealed pending the completion of a competency hearing.

Waldo County Sheriff's deputies were called to Steven Hodgdon's Rutland Road home in Troy around 2:30 a.m. on March 8. He was dead at the residence, and it was later determined he died from a stab wound to the chest.

A disposition hearing has been tentatively set for May 1, though Hodgdon will not be required to attend.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com