Gunman’s bail set at $1 million Searsport man accused in hostage-taking case

BELFAST – Bail for the armed man who held 11 Stockton Springs Elementary School students hostage last week was set at $1 million when he appeared in Belfast District Court on Monday.

Randall B. Hofland, 55, of Searsport faces nine counts of kidnapping, five counts of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and one count of burglary in connection with the school hostage incident. He faces an additional count of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon that stems from an incident in Searsport on the night of Oct. 23 when he allegedly pointed a handgun at a Searsport police officer and ran off.

Deputy District Attorney Eric Walker requested $1 million surety bail or $250,000 cash, for the charges associated with the armed hostage-taking at the school last Friday. He asked for $100,000 surety bail or $50,000 cash for the Searsport incident that took place a week earlier. Special conditions require no contact with the victims, no possession of weapons, and submission to random searches on demand.

“Mr. Hofland does represent a significant threat to others in the community but also a significant threat for flight considering the incidents of the past week and a half,” Walker told Judge Patricia Worth. Hofland’s attorney, Jeffrey Toothaker of Ellsworth, did not object to the bail or conditions.

Worth also ordered that Hofland undergo a mental examination.

Hofland had been the subject of a weeklong manhunt after the gun incident with police in Searsport. Shortly after running from police that night, Hofland placed a phone call to the Waldo County Communications Center and advised authorities there would be “a war” if they didn’t leave him alone.

Hofland managed to evade the manhunt until he suddenly appeared at the Stockton Springs Elementary School last Friday morning.

According to an arrest report filed by state police Lt. Gerard Madden, Hofland entered the gym-cafeteria area at 8:35 a.m. and attempted to pull two boys into the woman’s locker room. When a bus driver confronted him, Hofland brandished his 10 mm Glock semiautomatic handgun and pointed it at the driver’s head from a distance of about 18 inches. He then left the room and walked down the hallway.

A secretary was alerted to the situation and immediately ordered the school locked down. At the same time, Hofland entered the fifth-grade classroom with his gun drawn and ordered the teacher out of the room at gunpoint, according to the report.

Hofland then went to the corner where the children had been directed to go earlier by their teacher and sat with them. Eleven students were in the room, and Hofland let two go when one began crying.

By that time police had surrounded the school, and State Police Detective Jason Andrews began talking to Hofland through the classroom door, the report said. Shortly after 9 a.m. Hofland let the children he was holding hostage leave the classroom, giving his gun belt containing the loaded handgun and five loaded magazines to a male pupil to carry out. Hofland then left the classroom and was immediately tackled by Andrews, taken into custody, and taken to jail.

Hofland was not required to enter a plea during his initial appearance on the charges Monday. During that appearance, he complained about his rights and wanted assurances that he would be held at the Waldo County Jail during the period leading up to his trial. Hofland told Judge Worth he needed to be confined in Belfast because he wanted access to his lawyer and visits from family members coming from California.

“It shouldn’t be an issue,” Hofland told the judge. “If I’m moved it would be a hardship.”

Judge Worth cautioned Hofland that the proceeding was being recorded and anything he said could surface at a later hearing. Although she agreed that where he was housed would be a concern when his case goes to trial, Worth told Hofland she had no intention of ordering Waldo County Sheriff Scott Story where to keep him for the time being.

Hofland also wanted assurances that he could have access to his personal computer, which had been seized by police, and that his dog be returned to his mother.

At one point, Hofland told Judge Worth that he would be serving as lead attorney in his defense.

When Hofland expressed concerns about what kind of information the district attorney might convey to the media, Judge Worth cut him off. She said that anything associated with the case would be in the public record and that if he had problems with that he should consult his attorney.

“You’ve got an experienced defense attorney that should be able to help you on these issues,” Worth said.

As he was removed from the courtroom and taken back to the Waldo County Jail, Hofland advised members of the media to get their facts right. Hofland had not made bail by Monday evening.

One of the hostages was the 10-year-old daughter of Gary Maddocks of Stockton Springs. Maddocks was in the courtroom for Hofland’s appearance. Maddocks said his daughter “took it a lot better than I would have,” but that the ordeal was a traumatic experience for all the children involved and the community.

“Some kids are flexible and can bounce back; others could be disturbed by this for a long time,” he said.

Maddocks said he was disgusted by Hofland’s actions and suggested that he was looking for attention. He said he found it ridiculous to see Hofland in court complaining about his rights.

“He felt his rights were violated and he wasn’t being treated fairly? What about those children and those teachers? Why didn’t he just go to a pay phone and call 911 and turn himself in instead of putting those children and teachers through that? He just wanted to make a name for himself,” Maddocks said.

wgriffin@bangordailynews.net

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