Man gets 70 years in Parkman murder

SKOWHEGAN – Arthur Belanger Jr., 23, of Madison cut an 11th-hour deal with prosecutors this week, agreeing to plead guilty to murder, aggravated attempted murder, robbery and elevated aggravated assault in exchange for the state dropping additional charges of conspiracy to commit murder.

Not only did Belanger kill a former Army buddy in 2003 in a hunting camp in Parkman, he also tried to kill another military friend a week later, and, most recently, tried to arrange – from jail – the execution of the Maine State Police detective in charge of his case, according to a state prosecutor.

In simple terms, “this is a bad man,” Assistant Attorney General Andrew Benson said after Belanger’s sentencing Friday at Somerset County Superior Court.

“While it is clear that both the murder and the attempted murder were premeditated, he has never provided an adequate explanation or motive,” Benson said.

Justice Joseph Jabar sentenced Belanger on Friday morning to 70 years in prison, 40 years for the murder and 30 years in total for the other crimes.

Of the nonmurder counts, 10 years will be served consecutively with the murder sentence and 20 years will be served concurrently.

With time off for good behavior and no chance of probation, Belanger will be nearly 62 years old when he is due to be released.

Belanger and Chadd Slimm, 21, murdered Brian Vines, 23, an active-duty soldier from Fort Campbell, Ky., in Parkman in October 2003.

Vines, whose body was found at the Piscataquis County camp 10 days after his death, had been shot four times. He was in Maine to visit Belanger, who had served with Vines at Fort Campbell.

Slimm pleaded guility to murder in March 2004.

Both men also pleaded guilty to aggravated attempted murder, robbery and elevated aggravated assault in connection with an Oct. 16 assault in an Anson gravel pit in Somerset County on Michael Giles, another soldier from Fort Campbell.

According to Benson, Giles told police that Belanger sprayed him with Mace and Slimm struck him in the face with a flashlight in an attempt to kill him because he had learned the pair had killed Vines.

“He knew too much,” Benson said in the courtroom.

Giles, who managed to escape, later led police to Vines’ body in Parkman.

A third man, Steven M. Quirion, 21, of Skowhegan, previously pleaded guilty in Somerset County Superior Court to Class A elevated aggravated assault in connection with the gravel pit incident.

Quirion was a witness to the savage attack on Giles, and his guilty plea came with a reduced sentence of five years in jail in exchange for Quirion’s promise to testify against Slimm and Belanger.

Belanger’s father, Arthur Belanger Sr., also has been charged in the case with hindering prosecution. Benson said he allegedly burned his son’s and Slimm’s clothing and shoes after the two confessed to killing Vines immediately after the murder.

In court documents, Benson also stated that while incarcerated at Piscataquis County Jail, Belanger had tried to solicit Detective Darryl Peary’s murder and took steps to have Slimm’s trailer burned.

No trial date has been set for Belanger Sr., and Benson said Slimm will be sentenced to 40 years in prison with all but 22 years suspended on March 4.

Although Belanger Jr. waffled all week about whether he would go through with pleading guilty, he asked for mercy from Justice Jabar during Friday’s sentence hearing.

Dressed in a dark green suit and white shirt and tie, the stocky, goateed Belanger told the court: “I know I made a lot of mistakes in my life. I am not proud of them. I am truly regretful and sorry for what I have done. I only ask for a chance to someday be able to make something of myself.”

Vines’ two stepbrothers and stepfather, in Maine from Oklahoma, testified that the loss of their family member has caused their family endless suffering.

“Where were Brian’s rights?” Paul Hildebrandt, Vines’ stepfather, asked. “It seems the one who commits the crime always has his rights protected and the victim seems to lose his.”

Hildebrandt said he was in favor of capital punishment although he added he was aware Maine did not have a death penalty.

“I wish him a very difficult life,” Hildebrandt said of the defendant.

Jabar said that since both the murder and the attack in the gravel pit were premeditated, he was assigning the maximum penalty.

Belanger was led out of the courtroom, shackled by his wrists and ankles, and escorted by four deputies back to Piscataquis County Jail.