MANCHESTER
Juveniles serving 30 days in fire case
Most are also paying restitution
By Betty Adams badams@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA -- Four of five juveniles charged with arson in a fire that leveled an unoccupied Manchester home Feb. 21 are serving 30-day sentences at a youth correctional center in Charleston.
TOTAL LOSS: Fire investigators eight suspects in connection with an arson blaze on Scribner Hill Road in Manchester. Police said five of those who were questioned are linked to another arsonin Livermore Falls. The abandoned farmhouse in Manchester was destroyed by the fire.
Staff photo by Andy Molloy
The four pleaded guilty July 15 at Augusta District Court to charges of aggravated criminal mischief. In exchange for those pleas, charges of arson were dismissed, court records indicate.
A hearing for the fifth juvenile is set next month.
Sentences for the four varied slightly, but the unsuspended portion of all of them was 30 days in custody. All four are to undergo a psychological risk assessment and possible counseling. Conditions of probation ban them from possession of incendiary devices.
The defendants also are prohibited from contact with the owner of the Scribner Hill Road home, Lendall Dudley, and must pay restitution.
Manchester Fire Chief Allan Hewey estimated the damage at between $50,000 and $60,000 for the farmhouse and its contents. He said Dudley, who lived nearby, used the building to store antiques and other items. No one was injured in the fire.
Attorneys for the defendants negotiated the sentences individually with District Attorney Evert Fowle.
"The plea was worked out after a long negotiation," said Leonard Sharon, the attorney for Ryan Conant, one of the four juveniles. "Notwithstanding the kids viewed it as a prank, (Fowle) and the fire marshal viewed it as a serious offense."
Sharon also represents Jordan Conant, 19, of Winthrop, who still faces charges of arson and aggravated criminal mischief in the incident. His case remains pending in Kennebec County Superior Court; his next court appearance is set for September.
The sentences of the four juveniles serving 30-day sentences at Mountain View Youth Development Center:
* Ryan Conant, 17, of Winthrop was sentenced "for an indeterminate period to age 20," with all but 30 days suspended and two years' probation. He was given credit for 120 hours of community service already completed and ordered to pay $4,978, which he did July 15.
* Stephen J. Souther, 17, of Livermore was sentenced "for an indeterminate period of time to age 21," ordered to do 100 hours of public service by July 15, 2011, and to pay the $4,978 restitution within 24 months.
* Eric J. Duplessis, 17, of Winthrop was sentenced "for an indeterminate period of time to age 20," with all but 30 days suspended, ordered to do 100 hours of public service by July 15, 2011, and to pay the $4,978 restitution by July 23, 2010.
* Kameron K. Souza, 17, of Winthrop was sentenced "for an indeterminate period of time to age 20," with all but 30 days suspended, ordered to do 100 hours of public service by July 15, 2011, and to pay the $4,978 restitution through a case worker.
A motion filed with the court by Duplessis' attorney, Scott Q. Quigley, shows that State Fire Marshal's Office investigators had significant evidence, including video and audio recordings from J&S Oil and Cumberland Farms apparently showing the juveniles buying gasoline just prior to the incident. A cell phone found at the scene was linked to one of the suspects by the Maine Computer Crimes Task Force and Manchester firefighters.
"I thought it was a fair sentence," Sharon said of Ryan Conant's case. "It was a difficult case. I'm sure some of the parents think the sentences are too harsh, and Evert and the fire marshal don't think they're harsh enough."
Souther's attorney, Jason Jabar, said his client is happy the case is resolved.
"He's established that he's a good student. He's going to Maine Maritime Academy next year. He's a good citizen in the community," Jabar said Wednesday. "This is not characteristic of him at all. I think it was just a bunch of kids doing some stupid mischievous thing."
Souza's attorney, James Martemucci, supplied the court with 13 letters of support for Souza from teachers, neighbors, relatives and others. Those individuals said Souza possessed excellent qualities and would learn from his mistake.
A fifth juvenile charged, Ryan Castonguay, 17, of Fayette, is scheduled for a hearing 8:30 a.m. Aug. 19 in Augusta District Court.
Two of the three adults charged with arson in connection with the incident had been sentenced earlier in Kennebec County Superior Court:
* Christopher Minor, 19, of Winthrop pleaded guilty June 9 to reduced charges of criminal mischief and failure to control or report a dangerous fire. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail, with no time suspended, followed by one year administrative release. He paid $13,288 restitution -- one-third the amount of property damage, Fowle said -- and is currently serving his sentence.
* Chandler White, 18, of Livermore pleaded guilty July 1 to a felony charge of aggravated criminal mischief. He was placed on deferred disposition for 15 months. If he complies with the terms of that disposition, he'll be able to withdraw his plea and have the offense reduced or dismissed. At the hearing, he paid $13,288 -- his share of restitution. He also is required to work two summers at Pine Tree Camp and reside with his parents.
Investigators believe four of the juveniles and one adult are linked to a Feb. 20 fire that consumed an abandoned mobile home on Park Street off Route 133 in Livermore Falls. No charges have been filed in that incident.
Sharon said he is in discussions with the district attorney about a resolution to the case of Jordan Conant, who is currently working at Pine Tree Camp and has paid his share of the restitution, Sharon said.
Betty Adams -- 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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32 COMMENTS
Aldin said...
Slap on the wrist! Make them buy the materials and rebuild the property. It would (hopefully) give them a little more perspective on what their "prank" cost the owner.
July 30, 2010 at 7:20 AM Report abuse
AMomFirst said...
A slap on the wrist Aldin? How do you figure? They are serving their time and have paid restitution.
July 30, 2010 at 8:13 AM Report abuse
Robinwhod said...
The plea...
July 30, 2010 at 8:14 AM Report abuse
anonymous12 said...
I agree Aldin!
July 30, 2010 at 8:32 AM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
I know some of these youngsters and their parents and they are not bad kids. I know they have learned a lesson and their punishment is an appropriate one since it is a negotiated one that considers all factors. A slap on the wrist - hardly. This a record that will stay with them for the rest of their lives - and will probably cause them more than one headache in the road ahead.
July 30, 2010 at 9:54 AM Report abuse
Dragonlady said...
Are you kidding me Rockpond??? These are "not bad kids"...not bad kids are young adults that do not do what they want with other people's property! One of the first things I taught my child was respecting someone else's property. They took this gentleman's livelihood and I am sure it will take him a long time to recover from this - never mind the restitution he might receive from them. This was his property. These "youngsters" were young adults and a few months more would have been adults. It is good that this will follow them for how ever long - cuz as we know if they dont get in trouble again it will be wiped from their record. It also sounds like this wasnt the only time they set fire to something - I dont think it was a one time deal and now lesson learned. Sounds like they would have kept setting fires, but thankfully were caught.
July 30, 2010 at 10:38 AM Report abuse
frigate said...
Wondering if these guys even realize how absolutely lucky they are that no one was injured or killed in the process! Stay tuned...more stories of knuckleheads to follow.
July 30, 2010 at 10:43 AM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
Men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Dragonlady, you sound as though you could be a descendent of Bloody Mary, Queen of Scots of old England where harsh punishment was the order of the day. Would you rather have seen them hung in Tyburn Square or better yet, a life imprisonment on Devil's Island or sent to the Australian penal colony?
July 30, 2010 at 11:04 AM Report abuse
KO said...
Rockpond wrote "...they are not bad kids." Really? They bought gasoline and *intentionally* set fire to a structure and according to one of the attorneys, they viewed it as a prank. If the house accidentally caught fire, then I'd give them a bit more latitude, but given they brought an accelerant with them (which clearly shows intent), they committed ARSON. I'm not sure that I (personally) would ever consider an arsonist "not bad".
July 30, 2010 at 11:32 AM Report abuse
YimWingChun said...
Definitely a slap on the wrist! More convicted arsonists (just like the deaf one in Gardiner) who are receiving sentences equal to that of a trespasser, and a lot less of a sentence that the convicted habitual driving offender receives. What a joke!
July 30, 2010 at 11:38 AM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
District Attorneys deal with crime and punishment every day of the week. That is their job and they are the experts. As well, that is what judges do each and every day and they too are the experts. In this case, as in all other criminal cases, sentences are limited and sometimes mandated by law. In this case both judge, jury and victim have agreed as to what is an appropriate sentence. It never ceases to amaze me that those of you who know little about the subject constantly post comments advocating overly harsh punishments that do not fit the crime. Our country already has 2.3 million people in prison, the highest per capita of any country in the world. I’ve no doubt that if you harsh minded folks were in charge of doling out punishment, you would double that number. Have you no compassion whatsoever and understanding as what a bunch of drinking but noncriminal teenage boys might do just raising hell without any intent of malice?
July 30, 2010 at 12:45 PM Report abuse
Town said...
I know these kids too. And while they may not be "bad kids" (not really sure what that means or when one becomes a bad kid) They certainly have lacked good oversight from their respective parents. This is another case of risky behavior from kids who believe they are privileged in town. And seeing the plea bargins maybe they are? I just don't believe you would see a kid who came from lesser means or wasn't as popular get the same deal. Half the problem with our justice system is that we don't focus on restorative justice. And Winthrop as a community ignores, mostly the parents, ignore that their kids drink and smoke pot. And it is ruining lives, and in some cases ending them. Ignorance is not bliss. Mrs. Criss at the highschool does the same thing, she helps no one.
July 30, 2010 at 12:45 PM Report abuse
Town said...
They set a fire intentionally. They are lucky that none of the responding emergency personnel got injured or that they themselves didn't get injured. Rockpond, you seem to be just as much the problem in Winthrop, and very little much of the solution. What will it take for the parents of these youths to wake up and see that their kids are ruining their own lives. I grew up in Winthrop and while we may have pranked a few people/friends. We never put in jeopardy someones life. It is no longer a prank when you deal with lives. Everyone who thinks these kids are just "Kids" need to grow up themselves and realize they are only doing them a disservice. Drinking so much at that age is a recipe for disaster. One that Town you would THINK knows all to well. Break the cycle and get involved in your kids lives. Because frankly it is pathetic to watch "good" kids lose their life.
July 30, 2010 at 12:57 PM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
Criminologists, socialogists and penal authorities have been studying crime and punishment for over 200 years and yet nonprofessional and unlearned people like Town and others have all the answers. Amazing.
July 30, 2010 at 1:17 PM Report abuse
KO said...
Rockpond wrote: "Have you no compassion whatsoever and understanding as what a bunch of drinking but noncriminal teenage boys might do just raising hell without any intent of malice?" ----- They *intended* to burn the structure down, how is NOT malicious??!? OK, lemme ask you this. Out of all of the teenagers that you've ever known during your life, how many have be accused of a felony crime? If you can't name any (or many), than your logic that behavior like this is part of any typical teenager's life is severely flawed.
July 30, 2010 at 1:18 PM Report abuse
anonymous12 said...
A prank is a phone call or something FUNNY. This is NO prank, and these were no good kids. Open your eyes Rockpond. We don't need to personally know any of these kids/parents, or be involved to know that intentionally setting a fire is no laughing matter, nor is it something to take lightly and that good kids don't often go out doing so.
July 30, 2010 at 1:41 PM Report abuse
Town said...
Hmm. or Maybe I have a BS in Criminology and you are the one that is unlearned.
July 30, 2010 at 1:42 PM Report abuse
Ginger said...
Rockpond what makes you think you're the expert and no one else on here has a clue? Think before you hit the enter key...its obviously apparent that you are biased, not educated.
July 30, 2010 at 2:17 PM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
I do have a Criminal Justice Degree and thought very much like many of you before I acquired it. In 1993, I was invited to a seminar at the University of Maine conducted by a panel of venerable judges from all over the United States. The single thing they were all in agreement with is that if society wishes to see a reduction crime, harsh punishment is not the answer. And they closed the seminar by saying the single biggest difficulty they had was educating the general public who think otherwise.
July 30, 2010 at 2:31 PM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
I just wrote a letter to our District Attorney Evert Fowle and told him that he was too easy on crime. I also wrote a letter to Judge Nancy Mills the sentencing judge and told her that she was showing favoritism towards affluent Winthrop kids. As my proof of both allegations, I used the comments made by you folks from Harshland.
July 30, 2010 at 2:47 PM Report abuse
KO said...
Rockpond wrote: "...The single thing they were all in agreement with is that if society wishes to see a reduction crime, harsh punishment is not the answer." Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight, good luck with that thinking. Just out of curiosity, what solution did the panel of judges come up with for reducing crime then?
July 30, 2010 at 2:49 PM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
I don't recall them suggesting a solution for they like myself know there isn't any. Throughout history, vitually everything as a deterrent has been tried by various nations. Robespierre guillotines, public hangings, death penalty and life sentences. Fact of the matter is that deterrents don't deter crime. If they did, then we and the world would be crime free. Think about it. Most of us simply obey the law because we believe or have been taught/conditiond that we should.
July 30, 2010 at 3:03 PM Report abuse
AMomFirst said...
Ginger - Rockpond has declared himself an "expert" in many areas over the years on the KJ comment pages....the nom de plume changes occasionally, but the tone does not.
July 30, 2010 at 3:07 PM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
My last comment and I will leave you will something to think about. A United Nations study conducted in 1980 and again in 1990 compared the homicide rate in all of the countries of the world where statistics were available. What they saw was a significant and nearly instant reduction in the homicide rate in every single country that did away with the death penalty. They did not try to explain why this happened. They simply presented the facts. Please know the United States is the only western nation that still has the death penalty. And please know that we have the highest homicide rate of any country in the world. Violence begets violence, as they say, perhaps. Check out the FBI crime statistics they have been keeping since 1935. Approximately 20,000 homicides in our country every year. And finally, the recidivism rate of those thrown in prison is about 80%. Solutions, No. But harshness of penalty only increases crime. Have a good day and I hope I have provided some food for thought.
July 30, 2010 at 3:25 PM Report abuse
green2 said...
Rockpond you may be right about the death penalty information because truely I don't think anyone that is going to kill somebody thinks they might get the death penalty if they get caught. Anyone who kills someone is not right in the head and should be eliminated versus paying for them to rot in prison. Your theory of harshness of penalty does not make any sense. Put it this way, if your 2 year old child runs out into the road and you go and pick him up and say don't do that the child does not learn a lesson. If you pick him up and let him have it on the rear end they understand real quick that they should not run into the road. The same is true as they get older the "harsher" I am with correcting my childrens behavior right at the start and as long as I am consistant they behave. The problem is with our court system is that they are not harsh enough on the first offense and they are not consistant, therefore the bad behavior continues.
July 30, 2010 at 5:05 PM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
green2, these are not my theories What I have written are condensed versions of writings from my textbooks written by notable people from around the world in the many professions who have studied crime and punishment for a lifetime. The human beast, especially the male, is by nature a violent creature. Read the many books on the History of Civilization as I have and you will see that it is really a history of war, carnage, crime and violence. Our country happens to be one of the world's worst in that regard. In the 75 years of my life, my country has either been at war or an invader of nations 62 of those years. And look at what goes on in our world every day as the population soars out of control at 6.3 billion people. Take a look at the crime rates in rural areas verses urban areas and you will see a substantial difference. And please, simple individual incidents like you have presented do not make a case for general theories which is what I am trying to address.
July 30, 2010 at 5:58 PM Report abuse
jdtex said...
Rockpond is correct. These are just sweet little arsonists - oops, I mean sweet little youngters.
July 30, 2010 at 6:12 PM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
I’m beginning to understand what would please you folks from Harshland - perhaps a public stoning for these little self-appointed fire monsters from Hell, right? Yeah, that’s it or maybe burn them at the stake like they did in the days of the Spanish Inquisition. Or how about deheading them and putting their heads on pikes as they once did in England. Now that would teach those other little potential fire monsters to pay attention.
July 30, 2010 at 6:29 PM Report abuse
BillyFiske said...
Rockpond last time I saw you being an expert and pundit on something you were raking the Winthrop EMTs over the coals. You stated what an expert the Manchester town manager was on the subject. Of course what you didn't know was between the time you talked to the Manchester town manager and when you decided to be an expert on the Winthrop EMTs he had done his homework and hired the Winthrop Ambulance EMT service. You are a legend in your own mind. No "good kid" deliberately burns down someone's property. Good kids by their age learn to think about the consequences of their actions on others. Not to say that they can't redeem themselves and become "good adults".
July 30, 2010 at 6:34 PM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
BillyFiske, you are self serving and lost your issue and now you are bitter about it. Try to remember that on February 27, 2007, Winthrop voters supported me and spoke loud and clear when they voted 836-646 against building an unnecessary $7 million Taj Mahal in a slough hole. And my seeking the advice of the Manchester town manager was more about the excellent services provided by the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department.
July 30, 2010 at 7:58 PM Report abuse
Rockpond said...
BillyFiske: And if you will reread what I have written, I am supportive of the District Attorney and the sentencing judge – not the juveniles who committed the crime of arson. Let us hope their moderate sentence helps them become good citizens and not career criminals as severe penalties and lengthy incarcerations tend to make.
July 30, 2010 at 8:09 PM Report abuse
UofA said...
Rockpond- You are really a piece of work!
July 31, 2010 at 10:33 AM Report abuse