Michael Derosier was placed on six years of probation for a fire-setting spree last March.
By Lisa Chmelecki
Staff writer

AUBURN – It is not common for drug and alcohol counselors to drive two hours to go to court and advocate for one of their clients.

In the case of convicted arsonist Michael Derosier, three made the trip.

The Bangor-based counselors went to Androscoggin County Superior Court Monday morning and told Justice Thomas E. Delahanty II that Derosier is not a criminal.

They described him as a suicidal alcoholic who went on a fire-setting spree last year because it was the ultimate cry for help.

“He did a criminal act,” one counselor said, “but he does not have a criminal mindset.”

The counselors’ comments – along with an emotional statement from Derosier himself – was enough to convince Delahanty to take a risk.

Derosier, a former volunteer firefighter in Minot, pleaded guilty last March to two counts of arson. He could have been ordered to spend 40 years in prison for starting fires at an Auburn auction house and another small business.

Delahanty decided to spare him. The judge sentenced the 33-year-old to 10 years in prison but suspended the entire term and placed Derosier on probation for six years.

“I’m willing to take the chance,” Delahanty said. “These people have come here and they’ve put their word on the line for you. I don’t see that frequently.”

Recovery program

It has been nearly a year since Derosier was charged with four counts of arson in connection with a series of fires at two businesses and a vacant house.

Police say he used his training as a volunteer firefighter to start blazes at Exit 1 Auction and Sales on Old Portland Road, an empty cabin on Butler Hill Road and Zampell Refractories and Insulation on First Flight Drive.

No one was injured in the fires. The total damage to the buildings was estimated at about $32,000.

A former meat cutter at Hannaford Brothers, Derosier pleaded guilty to two counts of arson. The other charges were dropped. His sentencing hearing was postponed to give him time to participate in an alcohol recovery program at a Bangor treatment center.

Derosier credits the six-month program at Wellspring for saving his life.

“I had no will to live. Drinking destroyed everything for me.” he said in court Monday. “I’ve learned a lot of things about myself. In the past, I was always able to run when the going got tough. This time, I knew I couldn’t run. I had to go through the pain.”

‘A very good example’

The Wellspring counselors described Derosier as an honest man who has worked hard at his recovery.

“He’s been a very good example of what we like to send out of Wellspring,” said one counselor. “I see him as an asset to any community.”

Derosier told Delahanty that he has been sober for a year and he hopes to eventually go to college and get a degree.

Before announcing Derosier’s sentence, Delahanty spoke about the seriousness of setting fires. He told Derosier that someone, including the firefighters who put out the blazes, easily could have been hurt.

The judge’s decision to suspend the entire sentence was followed by sighs of relief from Derosier’s wife, parents and friends who attended Monday’s hearing.

As a condition of Derosier’s six-year probation, he must complete 750 hours of public service and pay up to $7,500 in restitution to the owners of the properties and the insurance companies that paid for the damage.

According to Deputy District Attorney Craig Turner, the victims were not pushing for jail time.

Derosier also must refrain from using drugs and alcohol and from committing any additional crimes. Any violations could land him in prison.

“If you mess up on probation,” Delahanty warned, “I get to correct myself.”

lchmelecki@sunjournal.com

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