Men charged with vandalism after UM win fined by court

BANGOR — More than three months after the party ended, the bill has come due.

Five of the 10 men accused of fueling a celebratory bonfire with University of Maine property after the hockey team’s national championship were each ordered Thursday to pay a $200 fine after pleading guilty in 3rd District Court.

Four of the men, Jojo Oliphant, 22, of Orono; John Gelsomino, 18, of Sayville, N.Y.; Chad Hayes, 20, of Old Town; and Stephen Cooper, 19, of Wareham, Mass., entered guilty pleas Thursday afternoon to criminal mischief charges for their parts in the April 3 vandalism spree after the Black Bears’ 3-2 overtime win over the University of New Hampshire Wildcats.

As a result of last-minute plea negotiations, each of the four university students also must perform 60 hours of community service and pay $200 restitution to the university for using park benches to fuel the fire.

Judge Ronald Russell reprimanded those involved in the destruction.

“When you come back in August, bring $427 and a better appreciation for other people’s property,” Russell said as Oliphant left the courtroom.

Marvin Glazier, the Bangor attorney for the four men who are football players at UMaine, said their crimes were relatively minor.

“These aren’t exactly crimes of the century,” Glazier said outside the courtroom.

Earlier Thursday afternoon, Braden Hunter, 19, of Henniker, N.H., pleaded guilty to one criminal mischief charge for his part in destroying a snowmobile that was driven onto the raging bonfire. Hunter, a Maine Maritime Academy student, was ordered to serve 60 hours of community service at MMA and pay $200 restitution to the owner of the snowmobile.

Earlier in the month, Christian Major, 21, of Bethel, Conn., pleaded guilty to one criminal mischief charge and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and $1,300 restitution.

In the original complaint, Major, Oliphant and Georges Gendron, 21, of Auburn were accused of tipping over a student’s car near the site of the bonfire. While damage to the car was estimated at $2,300, state prosecutors dropped the charges against Major and Oliphant because the car’s owner was not willing to testify, according to Penobscot County Assistant District Attorney Greg Campbell.

Gendron has pleaded innocent to the charges and opted to move his trial to Penobscot County Superior Court, where his case will be heard by a jury.

Charges are still pending against three other defendants.

The case against Evan Hafford, 18, of Hampden has been continued until Aug. 27. Hafford, an MMA student now at sea, is accused of driving the stolen snowmobile onto the bonfire.

The criminal mischief charges against Gregory Panora, 18, of Stow, Mass., and Jacob Pratt, 21, of Newcastle also have been continued, according to court records.