By Kelly Morgan,Staff Writer

PORTLAND – A Massachusetts man on Tuesday was sentenced to nine years in prison for pointing a shotgun at a Maine State Police trooper after a high speed chase that ended in Fryeburg last summer.

According to the U.S. attorney’s office in Portland, Taylor Michaud, 32, of New Bedford, Mass., also will face three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Michaud was sentenced by Judge George Singal in U.S. District Court in Portland, Sandra Dow of the U.S. attorney’s office said Wednesday.

On June 9, Michaud led police on a high speed chase through Brownfield and Fryeburg before being forced to stop after spike mats on Route 5 flattened three of his tires, according to a police affidavit. After stopping, the affidavit states, Michaud got out of his sport utility vehicle and aimed a long-barreled shotgun at Maine State Trooper John Hainey, who had been in pursuit.

The affidavit said Hainey fired four rounds from his handgun but missed Michaud, who quickly dropped the shotgun and surrendered.

According to the affidavit, the chase began when Hainey, U.S. Marshal Chris Clifford and Massachusetts police, acting on a tip, arrived at the home of Michaud’s aunt in Brownfield. Michaud appeared, and quickly fled after seeing the police, stopping only to let a passenger out of his SUV.

Speeds reached 90 miles an hour as Hainey and the other officers chased Michaud for nearly 15 miles on Route 113, then through Fryeburg village and north on Route 5, according to the affidavit.

Michaud was reportedly wanted on multiple terrorizing charges in New Bedford at the time of his arrest, which included discharging a firearm in public, destruction of property, threat to commit a crime, five counts of violation of protection orders, three counts of stalking, and witness intimidation.

Darcie McElwee, an assistant U.S. attorney in the Portland office, said Michaud will have to address any Massachusetts-based charges during or after his prison term. In addition, she said, “There are still charges in Oxford County.”

McElwee said she expects Assistant District Attorney Joseph O’Connor to bring forward those charges, which are related to the June 9 incident, at the Oxford County Superior Court level now that the federal process is complete.