Medway man gets six years for break-in

BANGOR – A Medway man with a significant criminal history was given a straight sentence of six years in prison for breaking into a camp in Woodville and taking roughly $1,000 worth of property.

Desmond Austin, 38, appeared Wednesday in Penobscot County Superior Court on charges of Class B burglary and Class C theft in connection with the Nov. 17, 2004, break-in, during which he stole a wood stove, chain saw and other items.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Andrew Mead.

Penobscot County Assistant District Attorney Greg Campbell said Thursday that he argued for seven years in prison but was pleased with the sentence. He called Austin “basically a career criminal.”

“It is a significant sentence [for the crimes], but we think it’s one that is well-warranted,” Campbell said.

Austin’s attorney, Cathy Rogers Lufkin of Millinocket, did not return a call Thursday.

Austin persuaded the court to suspend some of his sentence, Campbell said, but a long criminal history dating back to 1984 denied Austin any reprieve.

“He said that he had a lengthy history of substance abuse, but he has been on probation three times before and had his probation revocated each time,” Campbell said.

Austin was indicted on Dec. 6, 2004, for the burglary and theft charges and originally requested a jury trial before pleading guilty. He will serve five years for burglary followed by one year for theft.

He also was sentenced on Jan. 5 in Millinocket District Court for violating probation and threatening his girlfriend on the same day he broke into the camp in Woodville.

In addition to his prison sentence, Austin was ordered to pay more than $1,000 in restitution to the camp’s owner.