Gun-toting man gets 90 days > Incident involved confrontation with federal building security officers

BANGOR – Despite arguments from his attorney that going to prison would do his client no good, Gregory Murray, 47, was sentenced Wednesday by a federal judge to 90 days in jail for a confrontation he had last spring with federal court security officers at the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building.

Murray of Bangor was led away in handcuffs immediately after the two-hour sentencing hearing to begin his sentence. He also will serve one year of supervised release.

Murray’s eight-year history of unpredictable and aggressive behavior inside the federal building was laid out for U.S. District Court Judge George Singal by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, but Murray’s lawyer, Bruce Mallonee of Bangor, argued that his client was in therapy to learn how to control his anger.

Murray was angry, however, as federal officers led him away after the sentence was handed down. He shouted at a U.S. marshal supervisory deputy, accusing him of lying during sworn testimony given during the sentence hearing.

Last August, a jury convicted Murray of possessing a dangerous weapon in a federal facility, but found him not guilty of assault on a federal officer.

In March, Murray had brought a Civil War replica black-powder revolver into the lobby of the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building. The gun was in working order, and five of its six chambers were loaded, according to testimony at the trial.

During the trial, federal officers testified that Murray entered the building at about 4:20 p.m., displayed the holster and said “.44 Magnum.” Murray was asked to leave but then offered to check the weapon with officers until he had completed his business on upper floors of the building.

When officers refused to check the gun, Murray became irate, prompting the officer to call for help. Officers did respond with guns drawn, and Murray was arrested.

While arguing for a 90-day jail sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gail Malone outlined for Judge Singal a long history of problematic behavior by Murray.

U.S. Marshal Robert Hoke testified that Murray’s history of causing problems in the federal building dated back to at least 1992. He recalled times when Murray allegedly threw a chair in the Social Security Office and frightened staff members at the office of U.S. Rep. John Baldacci.

Federal officers had also been asked to remove him from the office of the Clerk of Courts, Hoke testified.

Mallonee told the court that his client had a history of psychiatric difficulties, but he was receiving treatment and working in positive ways to improve his anger issues.

“He is getting all the treatment he can and is learning coping skills,” Mallonee said. “There have been no problems since this incident in March.

“It is no good for Mr. Murray to go to jail, and it will do him a lot of good not to go to jail. … It would be best for Mr. Murray and best for the United States, your honor, to allow him to continue this line of treatment,” the defense attorney said.

But Malone argued that Murray had been escorted from the federal building numerous times for threatening behavior and had proven that he was capable of physical violence.

“Many of the federal officers testified during the trial that this was the first time they had to draw their weapons in the course of their duties as federal security officers,” she said. “I ask the court, how close did we come to having shots fired in the lobby that day?”

Speaking to the court himself, Murray, who had been free on bail until Wednesday, told the court he had been less than “well-mannered” and could only blame himself for his action. He also spoke briefly about the plight of county, state and federal government, saying they were “far gone” and the problems of government were “overwhelming” as it was contaminated with “corruption, apathy and substance abuse.”

Singal told Murray he found him to be an intelligent man who tried to push authority too far.

The judge said Murray’s knowledge that people were frightened of him gave him a “sense of power.”

“I think you view the government as dangerous and feel you have a mission,” the judge said.