14-year-old pleads guilty to criminal mischief

NEWPORT — Judge James MacMichael told 14-year-old Shawn Moulton there must be other ways of taking out frustration than destroying someone else’s property.

Moulton, a ward of the state, pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon to two charges — aggravated criminal mischief and criminal mischief — in connection with a March 16 crime spree from Plymouth to Hampden. He appeared in Newport District Court.

The two charges stem from Moulton’s involvement in the damage done at Pop’s Store on the Ridge Road in Plymouth and the theft of and damage to a car. Damage to the store was estimated at $2,000, according to Penobscot County Assistant District Attorney James Diehl.

“It was a way to take out my anger. I couldn’t think of anything else,” Moulton told the judge.

Moulton’s attorney said the boy was unhappy as a ward of the state living in foster homes. His mother was unable to care for him, and he never knew his father, the judge was told.

Three other charges in connection with the incident were dismissed.

Moulton pleaded guilty earlier this month to burglarizing the Northern Maine Junction Market and was found guilty in April of burglarizing a Hampden home, also March 16. Judge Ronald Russell sentenced the youth to the Maine Youth Center in South Portland until his 21st birthday for burglarizing the home, and Judge Jeff Hjelm sentenced him to the center until his 18th birthday for burglarizing the market.

On Wednesday, MacMichael also sentenced Moulton to the youth center until his 21st birthday, a sentence that will be concurrent with the earlier sentences.

The other youth, Michael Ely, charged in connection with the six-hour crime spree, was sentenced earlier this month to 30 days in the Northern Maine Juvenile Detention Center at Charleston and two years probation.