FARMINGTON – A Rangeley man was sentenced Monday on a felony charge of aggravated criminal mischief for his part in a fire that destroyed a garage and small apartment in May 2007 in Coplin Plantation.

Charles L. Brown, 54, was given two years probation and ordered to make restitution of up to $17,500 for the building owned by Craig Dam of Stratton. A jail sentence of 18-months was suspended in an agreement that dropped a charge of arson and charges of driving under the influence and driving after suspension and reduced the charge to felony aggravated criminal mischief, Assistant District Attorney James Andrews said.

Brown and a friend were riding around and looking for moose on that May night, said Andrews Monday. They were drinking and stopped at the abandoned garage, he said. They looked around and seeing an unlocked door entered the building, he added.

Brown apparently sat down in an overstuffed chair and was smoking. They left the building but were stuck in the driveway due to mud. While trying to get out they noticed smoke coming from the building and went back in to find the chair in flames, he said.

They brought the chair outside, put snow on it and left the chair smoldering. They got back into the car but were stuck again, he said. By this time, a warden and police officer arrived and arrested Brown for driving under the influence and driving after suspension, Andrews said. Everyone left the scene.

The wind picked up and the smoldering chair reignited. Left too close to the building, the chair is believed to be the reason the fire destroyed the structure, he said. Fire crews responded around 5 a.m.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called and after investigating, officers obtained a warrant for Brown’s arrest on an arson charge.

When they went to his house, no one answered the door, he said. They went inside and heard a gunshot. Brown had shot himself in the cheek, Andrews said.

Brown called 911 for help as law enforcement agents surrounded his home and tried to talk him out of the house to get him medical assistance.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Maine State Police Tactical Team were called and tried for two hours to get Brown to come out, reports at the time noted.

Brown eventually walked out of the house and surrendered to police. He was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital then flown to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for treatment of the gunshot wound.