LEWISTON – One of three people accused of burning down a cluster of buildings on Lisbon Street in December pleaded guilty to the charge on Monday.

Timothy Giggey, 27, of 104 Third St., Auburn, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland after state charges were dismissed so that the federal government could prosecute the case.

Giggey’s brother, 26-year-old Douglas Hersom, of 46 Knox St., Lewiston, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

Formerly charged with burglary and arson in Androscoggin County Superior Court, Giggey and Hersom were indicted on the federal charges of malicious destruction of property by fire. The state dismissed its charges so that the federal case could proceed.

Under federal guidelines, each of the suspects faces up to 20 years in prison and a quarter-million dollars in fines. They could have faced up to 30 years in a Maine prison had the state prosecuted the case.

A Lewiston teen also accused in the Dec. 19 arson is being prosecuted in the juvenile justice system. Investigators said 17-year-old Troy Littlefield joined Giggey and Hersom when the fire was set in the space above Marco’s Restaurant.

Police said the trio set the fire to create a diversion after breaking into a Lisbon Street building to steal copper. Police and fire investigators believe the trio also broke into the Cressey building – sandwiched between two other buildings that also burned – and set several other fires. A fourth building was also damaged. All eventually had to be torn down.

State and local investigators arrested the suspects after questioning the three and interviewing witnesses, some of whom said they saw three people fleeing from the back of one of the buildings shortly after the fire was called in.

The case against Hersom and Giggey was taken over by U.S. District Court because the property destroyed in the fire was owned by an organization receiving federal assistance, according to court documents. Greely Capital was receiving assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and through a community development block grant.

After being indicted March 28 by a federal grand jury Monday, Giggey and Hersom were moved to a Portland jail to await trial or sentencing.