September 21, 2024
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Machias man to serve 15 months for OxyContin burglary

MACHIAS – One year and two weeks after Joseph Hanscom of Machias and a woman he was dating committed a burglary in Machias, Hanscom is finished with his court proceedings.

On Oct. 6, Hanscom will report to a federal prison for 15 months, a sentence he received last Friday for gun charges in U.S. District Court in Bangor.

On Tuesday, Hanscom waived his formal arraignment for burglary and entered a negotiated plea in Washington County Superior Court. Justice Joseph Jabar sentenced him to 15 months that will run concurrent with his federal sentence.

“It’s good that these proceedings are over,” said Bangor attorney Jeffrey Silverstein, who represented Hanscom in both courts. “We’re looking forward to the future.”

Hanscom, 25, and Jennifer Jacques, formerly of Machias, were charged with burglary of the Machias Apothecary on Sept. 1, 2003. They removed $30,000 worth of OxyContin from the pharmacy that is owned by Jacques’ father.

Assistant District Attorney William Entwisle recounted the case for the state as Hanscom’s parents listened.

Silverstein concurred with the details. He added the fact that witnesses told the arresting officers that Hanscom and Jacques had been given a ride to Machias from Old Town, and returned to the car after the burglary.

“There was talk of tools to commit a burglary and the possession of narcotics,” Silverstein said.

Outside the courtroom, Silverstein wanted to correct an inaccuracy that has circulated since the pair’s arrest. Silverstein said that while Hanscom and Jacques were arrested in her apartment in Ithaca, N.Y., firearms were not found there.

“The guns were located in a pawn shop in Ellsworth,” Silverstein said. “The woman had suggested taking four guns that belonged to her father, to sell them for money for drugs.”

The two were indicted in December by a federal grand jury in Bangor for the possession and sale of stolen firearms.

As for Jacques, she was released on bail Sept. 2 after waiving indictment and pleading guilty to possession of a stolen firearm and burglary.

She is in custody of her father, Richard Jacques, who lives in New London, Conn. A sentencing date in U.S. District Court in Portland has not yet been set.

Correction: This article ran on page B3 in the State edition.

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