AUGUSTA — Three Augusta men who admitted to burning down several barns and a house “for the fun of it” have been sent to prison on arson charges.
Each of the three men pleaded guilty to burning barns in Sidney and a home in Belgrade. They said the fires followed a night of drinking and drugs.
In Kennebec County Superior Court on Tuesday, Keith Lajoie, 23, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with all but 15 years suspended. Marlon Cloutier, 26, was sentenced to 40 years in prison with all but 20 years suspended. Jason Bechard, 20, was sentenced to 35 years in prison with all but 17 years suspended.
After their prison terms, the men must serve 10 years of alcohol-free probation. If they drink alcohol, take drugs or hang around a business that serves alcohol or a person known to take alcohol or drugs, they could be sent back to prison to serve their full terms.
Also, the three men were ordered to pay a total of $126,000 in restitution.
District Attorney David Crook said Cloutier and Bechard openly cried in court Tuesday. They also blamed their actions on the alcohol and marijuana they consumed on the night of the fires, he said.
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