AUGUSTA
More teens charged in farmhouse arson
By Betty Adams badams@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer
AUGUSTA -- Three 18-year-olds were arrested and charged with arson over the weekend in connection with a Feb. 21 blaze that destroyed an abandoned two-story farmhouse in Manchester.
TOTAL LOSS: Fire investigators have questioned eight suspects in connection with an arson blaze Sunday on Scribner Hill Road in Manchester. Police said five of those who were questioned are linked to another arson Saturday in Livermore Falls. The abandoned farmhouse in Manchester was destroyed by the fire.
Staff photo by Andy Molloy
Christopher Minor
Kennebec County jail
Additional Photos Below
Jordan Conant, of Winthrop, was arrested Sunday and Christopher Minor, of Winthrop, was arrested Saturday. Chandler White, of Livermore, was also arrested Sunday at the State Fire Marshal's Office and was freed on personal recognizance bail.
Five juveniles have also been charged; Kennebec County District Attorney Evert Fowle said the juveniles have court dates May 6.
"It's likely we'll file petitions in those cases," he said Monday. In that event, the names of those accused would be made public.
Conant and Minor were initially held at Kennebec County jail on $250,000 cash bail. A judge in Kennebec County Superior Court reduced bail at a hearing Monday to $50,000 worth of property or $7,500 cash.
They posted bail and were released after the hearing.
The 2 a.m. blaze at the Scribner Hill Road farmhouse owned by Lendall Dudley was intentionally set, fire investigators said. Firefighters found a cell phone at the scene, and investigators were able to quickly identify eight suspects.
Affidavits by State Fire Marshal's Office investigator Kenneth MacMaster, filed with the court in the cases of Conant and Minor, say both men admitted involvement.
MacMaster's report says eight people were interviewed, "with the three adults and four juveniles admitting that they were involved in the planning and participated in burning the home."
Sgt. Kenneth Grimes, also an investigator with the State Fire Marshal's Office, said one of the adults and the four juveniles were also involved in a Feb. 20 arson that consumed an abandoned mobile home on Park Street in Livermore Falls on. Grimes said charges have not been filed in that case, which would be handled in Androscoggin County.
At Monday's hearing in Augusta, Justice Nancy Mills set bail for Minor and banned him from use or possession of incendiary devices. She also restricted him to his Winthrop home unless he is traveling directly between school and work. Minor's attorney, Alan Stone, declined comment after Monday's hearing.
Conditions of bail ban Conant from possession or use of incendiary devices, but Mills said she would not restrict his movements since his attorney, Leonard Sharon, said Conant would be returning to college in Georgia.
Bail conditions also prohibit Minor and Conant, whose homes are on Pamela Drive, Winthrop, from contact with each other and with the property owner, Dudley.
Conant and Minor graduated from Winthrop High School last June; White is a senior at Livermore Falls High School.
White's attorney, Walter McKee, said the difference in the bail amounts could reflect different roles of those accused.
"What is clear from everyone we've spoken to is that Chandler had no idea when he met up with the other boys that night what the other boys had planned," McKee said. "The other boys even said in the car, 'Should we tell Chandler what we're doing?' and they all said 'no.' Chandler never aided, assisted, participated or contributed in any way to what happened that night."
Betty Adams -- 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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Additional Photos
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TOTAL LOSS: Eight suspects in connection with an arson blaze Feb. 21 on Scribner Hill Road in Manchester have been charged with setting the blaze. Staff photo by Andy Molloy |
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34 COMMENTS
reader said...
Another fine,warm story coming out of Maine. By the way, we call 16,17,18 year olds 'young men' in Massachusetts. Not 'boys' like in Maine. To be called 'Boys' at 16,17,18 year old sounds a little sissy.
March 9, 2010 at 6:47 AM Report abuse
paperbackwri said...
These young men had too much time on their hands to committ arson. They should be made to pay restitution to the owner of the house with good, hard phyical labor.
March 9, 2010 at 8:42 AM Report abuse
paperbackwri said...
Reader, you are right. These guys aren't "boys" but men.
March 9, 2010 at 8:43 AM Report abuse
Jones824 said...
It makes you wonder why they do these kind of things. It sounds like bad influence of association and lack of parental supervision. It doesn't matter how old they are, once a parent, always a parent. They ruin their lives for what, nothing.
March 9, 2010 at 9:00 AM Report abuse
reader said...
I 'd like to have a fistfight with one of these 18 year olds
March 9, 2010 at 9:16 AM Report abuse
Racefan said...
some more fine up-standing young adults from Witnhrop...
March 9, 2010 at 9:28 AM Report abuse
AMomFirst said...
reader...care to elaborate on your desire to fight one of these men?
March 9, 2010 at 9:31 AM Report abuse
Racefan said...
that's suppose to be Winthrop.
March 9, 2010 at 9:34 AM Report abuse
WHS08 said...
I find it funny how "reader" says he would like to have a fist fight with one of these 18 year olds, and also in his first comment mentions how immature these kids are. Might want to look in a mirror when you say you would like to have a fist fight with one of them.
March 9, 2010 at 10:01 AM Report abuse
KO said...
I think that withholding names of minors for crimes such as this is a major disservice to the public. I understand that they are not legally 'adults', but wouldn't you want to know that kids such as these are arsonists?
March 9, 2010 at 10:25 AM Report abuse
BusyMom said...
Apparently Racefan missed the article about the great group of Winthrop youth who have been working very hard on the One Act Drama Festival and came in first over the weekend at regionals. Don't lump all the youth of Winthrop into one pot. There are many more who are indeed upstanding!
March 9, 2010 at 10:29 AM Report abuse
AMomFirst said...
KO - Just what would you do with that information if the minors' names were released? What purpose would it serve you?
March 9, 2010 at 10:43 AM Report abuse
bXBhcmVudA%3D%3D said...
The lawyer called them boys, and considering that 5 of them were minors, he could've been referring to them as a collective group. Apparently Massachusetts residents can do no wrong. HA!
March 9, 2010 at 10:51 AM Report abuse
reader said...
Massachusetts releases the names of juveniles and the names get published in Massachusetts media involved in crimes EVERYDAY. .......Look: ---- http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=17+year+old+arrested+massachusetts&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
March 9, 2010 at 11:08 AM Report abuse
Orv said...
Reader - you've just shown us the maturity of Mass men and I use the term men very loosely if you repesent them. Guess you also better go back and read the Globe today about you men shaking babies to death (good fight) also about a drug suspect shot & killed by police. You better clean up your own state before looking at what we call teens and warm stories from Maine.
March 9, 2010 at 11:13 AM Report abuse
AMomFirst said...
reader...just because it's done that way in Massachusetts doesn't make it right.
March 9, 2010 at 11:15 AM Report abuse
reader said...
Orv...we call babies shaken to death in massachusetts:...'minorities'...i am starting to think there is a missing link between mainers and minorities.
March 9, 2010 at 11:27 AM Report abuse
KO said...
I don't have any vested interested in this particular case, so the info wouldn'r serve me in any way. But, if it were my place that got burned (or the house of someone that I know), I would certainly want everyone to know who was responsible (minor or adult). What's the point of publishing the names of adults in a police log when they've committed crimes, especially if you don't know them?
March 9, 2010 at 11:29 AM Report abuse
Vm9pY2VvZmFtb20%3D said...
I don't think that anyone would negate the fact that these young men should be held accountable for their actions. However, I would challenege any parent of a young man/guy/boy/teen, whichever suits you, to be able to provide an accurate timeline of when and where their child is at every second of the day. Also, whoever of us has never done a stupid thing that they'd do anything to take back in their life...let them cast the first stone.
March 9, 2010 at 11:35 AM Report abuse
involved said...
It is a very sad day, not just for these kids, but for their friends and familiies. There are a lot of innocent kids being affected by this and a lot of parents mourning for the parents of these boys. Judge lest thee be judged. I would never expect MY child to be invovled with something like this...I am SURE that these families did not as well. People in glass houses........
March 9, 2010 at 11:48 AM Report abuse
Orv said...
Reader - You call babies shaken to death "minorities" ? That also makes you a racist. You don't derserve comment. But you can't read either because if you could you would have seen that they will release the names of those under 18 if they determine for sure they were involved. Go back to Mass - we don't need racist here. Clean up your own state before you talk about other. And no one is going to miss you if never come to Maine. We try to treat all people as equal. You have a few links missing.
March 9, 2010 at 12:42 PM Report abuse
Hipupchuck said...
Treat them like the terrorists that they are.
March 9, 2010 at 2:08 PM Report abuse
wingnut said...
6 months all suspended, one year of probation and restitution that will never be paid.
March 9, 2010 at 3:14 PM Report abuse
Relax said...
Apparently these men-children never quite learned right from wrong or social discipline. In this they were failed by their parents, schools, coaches, and communities. Those who planned and participated in these burnings should drop to their knees and beg the judge to permit them to enlist in the military. Perhaps a drill sargent can set these vacant minds straight. Beats going to jail, and jail is where they should be.
March 9, 2010 at 4:08 PM Report abuse
Q2hpbGxvdXQ%3D said...
For those of you who do not these boys/men, I do not think anyone should be commenting on their parents, supervision, etc. As it was said before, no parent know where or what their kid are doing at every minute of every day. For those who call them "terrorists", look at your past. If you can honestly say you have never made a mistake you wish to take back, then you should re-evaluate what you are putting out there. The immature part of this situation is what people are saying that is not true, or what people are saying about someone/something they do not know. If you have nothing good to say, then keep your opinion to yourself. All of the negative things that are being said are doing nothing but making the situation worse and making it harder for the boys and their families. Its respect, I think we all know what that means.
March 9, 2010 at 4:31 PM Report abuse
Relax said...
Q2hpbGxvdXQ%3D, RESPECT! Considering the situation here you're way off base using that word. Do you really feel that the parents of these men-children don't feel they deserve to take some measure of responsibility for the actions of their children? They raised them for goodness sake. Either you have no children or you have children and you’re not really a parent. I have to wonder, if the cell phone was never found how many buildings/homes were these men-children were prepared to burn down, and for what, amusement? Maybe yours, Q2hpbGxvdXQ%3D. Would you still be asking for respect then? We’ve all made mistakes...but burning down houses!!! That’s not a “mistake“. That’s insane.
March 9, 2010 at 4:59 PM Report abuse
Q2hpbGxvdXQ%3D said...
Just stating my opinion. You have an opinion, so do I, as does everyone else commenting on this. They are getting their consequences, if you have even read the article you would know that. you don't even live in Maine so why does this even pertain to you? you also don't know the kids or their families so its extremely shallow of you to even judge them. Its my opinion, you cant tell me i'm wrong. i'd appreciate if you would leave it at that and stop commenting back. What has happened is done, no need to keep talking about it. Leave this matter to the kids/adults and their families.
March 9, 2010 at 6:05 PM Report abuse
Relax said...
Q2hpbGxvdXQ%3D, you presume to know too much about me. Lots of unstated meaning intended there. Perhaps you should stop making irrational comments yourself. Just a thought. In the end, this is a story about social decay. People should be making comment. Not hiding from it like it never happened or pretending it was no one's fault.
March 9, 2010 at 6:45 PM Report abuse
Pinecone said...
Q2- You ARE wrong. This was not a one time (oops, my mistake) type of thing. This groups has been linked to multiple fires in a number of towns. Yes, we all have made mistakes but this wasn't a mistake. This was a willfull decision that was carried out without regard to anyone else. And yes, it is a terrorists act.
March 10, 2010 at 9:18 AM Report abuse
ZG9uZWRlYWwxMjM%3D said...
I love how parents and family are on here sticking up for their "kids". Also the last paragraph of this article seems to be written pretty loosley to me, how much money did the White family have to pay to have that thrown in their? How come no picture of White? He's 18! Its amazing what a little bit of money and an lawyer can do these days isnt it? Pray, and if that dont work.....Pay.
March 10, 2010 at 1:30 PM Report abuse
reader said...
Anyone one of you 18yo Maine boys want to come down to Brockton and get into a boxing ring with one of our 14,15 year old young men that box 5 days a week after school, Come on down! Show how tough you are.
March 10, 2010 at 2:09 PM Report abuse
green2 said...
ZG9uZWRlYWwxMjM%3D, do you not comprehend what you read? Do you know what personal recognizance bail means? It means for less dangerous or serious crimes, the law allows for you to simply promise to return for trial. This is called being released on your "own recognizance" or "personal recognizance." Most minor crimes and crimes where there is no victim are handled in this way. Now arson is a serious crime however, the fact that Mr. White was released on personal recognizance most likely relates to the "role" he played in the crime as his lawyer states. It would have nothing to do with having to pay money. Please people, educate yourself about topics before you comment on them. You just look stupid if you don't.
March 10, 2010 at 4:28 PM Report abuse
Relax said...
Reader, you seem to be as obsessed with fighting as these men/children were with burning. Please go away as you are adding nothing this conversation. Personally I'm hitting “report abuse” every time you speak up and I hope others will follow.
March 10, 2010 at 4:57 PM Report abuse
trollmunster said...
I bet all these kid rights were violated by the "Hitler Police" to find out who they all were. Let them go, it's just an old hut that needed to go away anyway. If the fire dept. can burn it down, so can the public. It might be ok to fine them for "burning without a permit". stupid police and prosecutors can bite me....................Only Panty Wastes hit the abuse button.................
March 12, 2010 at 5:51 AM Report abuse