Ashton Moores has long history of trouble with the law

Ashton Leroy Moores, 61, has spent a majority of his life behind bars, mostly for arsons, and now is heading back to prison for the murder of Christina Simonin, 43, who lived with him in Bangor and died by his hands in March 2007.

The following information was collected from a number of sources, mainly his criminal record, court records and Bangor Daily News archived stories, and placed into chronological order by the BDN.

1947 – Born July 8, Ashton L. Moores is originally from Trescott Township, a community southwest of Lubec in Washington County.

1961 – Referred to Bangor State Hospital (now Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center) by juvenile court. Years later, a psychologist testifies that Moores suffered from “mild mental retardation,” but was “far too capable” to be admitted to short- or long-term treatment.

1966 – Charged with arson, Moores serves time in Men’s Correctional Center in South Windham. Location of arson and length of sentence unknown.

1972 – Sets fire Aug. 27, at Orono home of Edmund LaPointe, 76, who dies of injuries the next day. Moores is sentenced June 27, 1973, to 8-20 years in Maine State Prison.

1981 – Arrested May 24, for fires in Waterville, Moores is convicted in May 1982 and sentenced to eight years in Maine State Prison. Released in 1989.

1991 – Indicted in Waldo County for alleged sexual contact with a boy under 14, Moores is convicted of misdemeanor assault Dec. 18 and sentenced to 30 days in jail.

1993 – Arrested Aug. 20 after more than a dozen Belfast fires, Moores pleads guilty to two counts and is sentenced Dec. 7, 1995, to 20 years with all but 15 years suspended at Bolduc Correctional Facility. Released in 2003.

2007 – Bangor police charge Moores, 59 at the time, with the murder of Christina Simonin, 43, after evidence is found in his First Street apartment and cameras allegedly show him using a wheelbarrow to move her body from his apartment.

2008 – Moores, 61, convicted Nov. 21 of gross sexual assault, intentional or knowing murder and depraved-indifference murder. His sentencing is scheduled for December or January. He faces 25 years to life in prison for the murder and up to 30 years for the gross sexual assault.