PORTLAND – A 23-year-old man whose record qualifies him as an armed career criminal was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court to 24 years and nine months in prison for four counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Jeremy Bender of Auburn was found guilty after a three-day jury trial in January.

Evidence presented at the trial showed that Bender possessed five firearms in February 1999. He purchased two of the weapons, which had been stolen during a burglary in Greene; he obtained the other three guns during burglaries he committed with two accomplices in Greene and Livermore.

Despite his age, Bender has a lengthy record that dates to his preteen years.

At age 17, he had spent all but 11 months of the previous five years at the Maine Youth Center. He was first sent there for violating probation for crimes allegedly committed in Washington state at age 11.

According to the indictment, Bender was convicted in York County in 1995 on two counts of robbery, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, burglary and escape.

He was convicted that same year in Cumberland County for armed burglary, burglary and theft.

Bender was released in January 1999 and arrested on the federal charges within a month.