Maine man’s appeal denied in federal court

BOSTON – A federal appeals court has denied a Maine man’s request to overturn his 51/2-year prison sentence for various drug convictions.

Joel A. Keene of Norway, Maine, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana after an early-morning raid on his rural home in September 2000.

Keene appealed his conviction on six grounds, including that the search warrant used to raid his home was not supported by probable cause; there was insufficient evidence of possession of cocaine; and a judge’s instructions to the jury were improper.

But the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston disagreed on all six grounds and affirmed his sentence, which included four years of probation, a $12,500 fine and forfeiture of his property.