2 teens in arson case appear in court Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds fire burned $100,000 in farm equipment

DOVER-FOXCROFT – Two local juveniles charged with the April 6 arson of buildings and equipment at Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds made their initial court appearances Monday in Dover-Foxcroft District Court.

James McLeod, 17, and Aaron McLain, 18, each charged with one count of arson, denied the charges during the proceeding that was open to the public because of the severity of the crime.

The pair are accused of setting fire to buildings, campers and antique farm equipment at the fairgrounds. More than $100,000 worth of farm equipment stored inside a 50-by-80-foot building was destroyed. Other fires were started in a milking parlor, hockey rink, fair office and campers.

Piscataquis County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy and Deborah Reynolds, juvenile community corrections officer, recommended Monday that both juveniles be held at Mt. View Youth Development Center until their hearing at 8:30 a.m. May 10 in Dover-Foxcroft.

But based on psychological assessments, Judge Kevin Stitham placed McLeod under house arrest in the care of his father and grandmother in Brownville and ordered McLain returned to the Charleston center.

Stitham said McLain’s assessment noted he had hallucinations the day of the fires. McLain countered that the hallucinations stemmed from harassment at school, which no longer occurred. He had hoped to stay with his grandparents in Harpswell, who were in court and who said they would care for him.

Stitham and Reynolds were concerned, however, that his mental health support would be interrupted by moving such a distance away.

Under the conditions imposed on McLeod, he must resume his schooling, take the medicines prescribed to him, attend counseling, and, when not in school, he must be in the presence of his mother, his father or grandmother.

Several of the victims of the fire at the fairgrounds were in court but did not speak during the proceeding.

Ken Richardson, treasurer of the fair association, said outside the courtroom that association members would meet April 27 to discuss rebuilding. He expected that the pole barn used for cattle would be replaced using funds either borrowed or raised.

Richardson found it incredible that someone would destroy property that was constructed by volunteers for an annual fair for the enjoyment of youth and adults.

Gary Sudsbury Sr. of Sangerville, superintendent of the campground, lost a camper stored on the property. He estimated the damage to the 1988 motor home at $10,000 and the value of items stored inside the camper at $4,500.

But it was the loss of his grandfather’s old Thompson fly rod and a small Father’s Day gift made by his daughter that caused him the most grief, he said. “Those two things meant the most to me,” he said outside the courtroom.