More arrests expected in rail yard theft

MILO – A local man was sentenced late last month for his role in the theft of more than $30,000 worth of brass traction motor support bearings and other metal that was stolen two years ago from the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railroad at the Derby rail yard.

Andrew Robinson, 42, pleaded guilty to theft by receiving stolen property and was sentenced to three years to the Department of Corrections, all of which was suspended. He also was placed on probation for two years and was ordered to make restitution of $5,000.

It is expected that more arrests will be made, according to Barry Knowles Jr., special agent with the railroad. Knowles worked on the investigation with Milo Police Chief Michael Poulin and Dover-Foxcroft Police Chief Dennis Dyer, who also serves as the railroad’s chief special agent.

Knowles said Monday the investigation was lengthy because Henderson at one point was in prison on an unrelated case.

The 35-40 pairs of mostly new bearings came as a pair in a box and weighed about 50 pounds and had a replacement value of more than $30,000, according to Knowles.

Chief Poulin said Monday he received a call on June 23, 2006, reporting that a theft had occurred at the rail yard. Upon his investigation, he found that thieves had entered the rail yard by circumventing a fence and had taken the support bearings. Knowles immediately went to Industrial Metals Recycling in Bangor and met with the officials there to report the theft, according to Poulin.

When Knowles arrived at the Bangor business, company employees had loaded some of the stolen support bearings into a tractor-trailer that was idling at the dock, Knowles said. The railroad later recovered those pieces which represented just under a ton but the remainder of the bearings are still missing, he said.

Knowles said security has since been enhanced at the rail yard to prevent further thefts.

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