BANGOR – A Veazie man was sentenced Tuesday in 3rd District Court in Bangor to four years in prison with all but nine months suspended after he pleaded guilty to a burglary spree as a juvenile that included stealing five handguns.

Lance Bradford, who has been held at the Charleston Youth Development Center since he was arrested in July, turned 18 on Jan. 14. On Tuesday he waived a hearing that would have determined whether he would face charges as an adult or a juvenile.

He pleaded guilty the same day to three counts of burglary to a business and four other charges. If convicted as a juvenile, Bradford could have been sentenced to remain at the Charleston facility until his 21st birthday. He also would not have been credited for time served.

He also was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay $4,500 in restitution to the four victims.

He is expected to spend about three months in the Penobscot County Jail before being released, according to Assistant District Attorney Patrick Larson.

Bradford and his brother Lucas Bradford, 19, of Bangor went on the burglary spree the weekend of Nov. 29-30, 2003, to pay off an out-of-state cocaine dealer, Larson said. The two stole a van from C.W. Ragg in Veazie, then drove it to Hermon where they burglarized C&K Variety and stole $400 in merchandise and did more than $200 in damage.

From Hermon, they drove to Bucksport, where they attempted to break into a store, but left when they set off the alarm. On the return drive from Bucksport, the brothers stopped at Van Raymond Outfitters and stole five handguns valued at $3,600.

Later that night, they returned the stolen van, according to Larson. Only one of the weapons has been recovered.

The brothers were arrested on July 30 shortly after burglarizing a home in Veazie.

Lucas Bradford has not been charged in the incident that his younger brother pleaded guilty to Tuesday.

“Discussions are still going on as to which agencies will proceed against the brother,” Larson said Tuesday outside the courtroom.