SANDY RIVER PLANTATION — A Rangeley man is accused of burning a bulldozer and stealing an excavator, both owned by Cousineau Inc. of Wilton.
Devon Clark, 18, was charged Tuesday by a state fire investigator with Class A arson. The charge carries up to 30 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Clark was being held Wednesday morning on $175,000 cash bail at the Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington. Judge Charles Dow on Wednesday lowered bail to $5,000 cash or personal recognizance and a supervised release agreement.
Clark appeared before Dow via videoconference from the jail. Clark could not enter a plea because arson is a felony and he has not been indicted.
Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins said he requested what some may consider a low bail because Clark has no criminal history. Damage to the property will probably exceed $200,000, Robbins said.
The bulldozer was found in a swamp on Beech Hill Road and had caught on fire, according to Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. The excavator was eventually found a distance from where it had been parked, driven off to the side of a dirt road, he wrote.
Investigators from the Office of the Maine State Fire Marshal were called in because of suspected arson. According to investigator Kenneth MacMaster’s affidavit filed with the Farmington court, a Caterpillar D5 (a track-type) bulldozer was burned early Tuesday on a logging road in Sandy River Plantation.
Evidence found at the scene led them to suspects from Rangeley, Nichols wrote.
MacMaster determined the fire to be intentionally set, he wrote in the affidavit. Evidence near the scene identified Devon Clark as being in the area, he wrote.
“When interviewed, Clark confessed to his involvement and participation with the fire,” MacMaster wrote.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
Devon Clark, 18, of Rangeley is accused of burning a track-style bulldozer and stealing an excavator Tuesday that belongs to Cousineau Inc. in Wilton. Two other males are expected to be charged in the case. (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)
Devon Clark (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.