Man pleads guilty in Brewer stabbing

BANGOR – A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty Tuesday in Penobscot County Superior Court to trying to kill the man who lives with his former girlfriend.

Larry Wilfred Gagne Jr., 28, whose last known address was Enfield, N.H., pleaded guilty to attempted murder and burglary. He broke into the victim’s Brewer residence in August and stabbed him six times before fleeing on foot.

Michael Roberts, deputy district attorney for Penobscot County, told the court that his office would recommend Gagne serve 20 years in prison for the stabbing.

The deputy district attorney also said that Gagne had indicated he had no memory of the incident.

A sentencing date will be set after the court receives a pre-sentence report and Gagne undergoes a forensic psychiatric evaluation, Maine Superior Court Justice Andrew Mead ruled after accepting the defendant’s guilty pleas.

Gagne, who has been in the Penobscot County Jail since his arrest on Aug. 29, wore dark blue prison garb to the hearing Tuesday. His ankles shackled and his arms folded across his chest, he answered the judge’s questions in a clear, calm voice.

The victim and Gagne’s ex-girlfriend sat behind him holding hands during the proceeding. Neither spoke to the court, but will be allowed to explain at the sentencing the impact the crime has had on them.

Gagne was arrested about five hours after the stabbing. Brewer police discovered the 25-year-old victim about 9:15 p.m. Aug. 28 lying in a pool of blood in the driveway of an apartment complex at 446 N. Main St.

He received “significant stab wounds in his lower chest and back,” Roberts said Tuesday.

Gagne was indicted and pleaded not guilty in October to attempted murder, elevated aggravated assault and burglary. The assault charge is expected to be dismissed after he is sentenced.