FARMINGTON — A local man was sentenced to five years with all but six months suspended for selling heroin.

Under a plea agreement, the state sought a one-year sentence for Anthony Gage Jr., 27, of Farmington. A total of 135 days, already served, will be credited toward it. A stay until after the holidays was granted. Gage is expected to begin the sentence on Jan. 9. The sentence includes two years of probation. 

Calling heroin a killing epidemic, Justice William Stokes on Friday expressed concern that Gage’s progress and local support continue. Stokes also wanted to send fair warning to others that if they engage in selling heroin, they will serve time, he said.

Assistant Attorney General David Fisher said he would have asked for more than one year until he saw the progress made by Gage since he and his brother, Jacob Gage, 30, of Farmington were arrested in January.

Jacob Gage was also in court Friday to enter a guilty plea for a felony charge of trafficking heroin.  The agreement seeks a sentence of four years with all but 10 months suspended and two years of probation. He will not be sentenced until Dec. 16 but his sentence is expected to be comparable to his brother’s.

Consideration of his position in the trafficking operation as compared to his brother’s should also be addressed, Stokes said.

Anthony Gage was described as a middle-man, not a large dealer but one who procured heroin for others to feed his own addiction.

“You have worked to address your addiction and I hope that continues,” Fisher told him.

Anthony Gage has made progress and has taken positive steps. He has become a different person than he was when addicted, Fisher said.

Gage made the most of resources and programs available during his 135 days at the Franklin County Detention Center, attorney Thomas Carey said. 

Carey asked for the 135 days already served to constitute the jail time along with two years of probation under the plea agreement.

Gage has shared his story with young people at the high school and at the University of Maine at Farmington in an effort to help them. He is volunteering with Evergreen Behavioral Services and showing others that “it is possible to turn around and free yourself from heroin addiction,” Carey said.

Expressing gratitude for his arrest, Gage said it “opened my eyes to getting help. Over the last year, I have changed my life completely. Recovery comes first.”

The case against the brothers developed when police investigated a rollover accident in January. Farmington Police Detective Darin Gilbert said the driver was under the influence of heroin, Fisher said.

The driver agreed to set up a buy of about $80 worth of heroin as police watched, he said. Text messages were sent to Anthony Gage, but Jacob Gage made the delivery and was arrested on a charge of trafficking in heroin.

Farmington police executed a search warrant at Anthony Gage’s residence and he also was arrested on a charge of trafficking in heroin.

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