BANGOR (AP) – A 42-year-old Lincoln man fainted in a Bangor courtroom when the judge imposed a 10-year base sentence for an arson and assault incident early this year.

Once he recovered and the hearing Thursday resumed, Eric Merrill learned that he’d only have to serve 2 years in prison because most of the sentence was being suspended by the judge.

Merrill was accused of firing dozens of shotgun and handgun rounds throughout his girlfriend’s house in January and setting fire to a sport utility vehicle.

He pleaded guilty earlier this month to arson, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon and aggravated criminal mischief and no contest to domestic assault. No one was hurt in the incident.


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