MACHIAS – Police arrested a Beals Island teenager late Monday in connection with the theft and vandalism of a lobster boat early that morning that caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to that vessel and several others.

Kenneth Chandler, 18, was taken to Washington County Jail in Machias around 9 p.m. Monday and booked on a charge of aggravated criminal mischief, a Class C felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Chandler had not posted bail as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to a jail officer. He is expected to make his first appearance in Washington County Superior Court today.

“We gathered both physical evidence and witness statements, and everything pointed to [Chandler],” said Sgt. Jay Carroll with the Maine Marine Patrol, which worked with the Maine State Police on the investigation.

A local lobsterman called authorities at about 3 a.m. Monday after finding the Lisa Marie, a 31-foot lobster boat owned by Larry Crowley, badly damaged, abandoned and spinning in circles in Moosabec Reach, a channel of water off the coast at Jonesport.

U.S. Coast Guard and marine patrol officials first called Crowley, who told them he had not given anyone permission to use his boat. Since no one was found on the boat, Carroll said, they initially feared its operator might have gone overboard.

After an unsuccessful search of the area, Carroll said efforts shifted to a vandalism investigation, in part because the Lisa Marie had collided with at least five other boats in the harbor. It also crashed into a dock.

Chandler was arrested at his home on Beals Island.

“At this point, we don’t have any reason to believe anyone else was involved,” Carroll said.

Attempts to reach Crowley by telephone Tuesday were unsuccessful.

erussell@bangordailynews.net

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