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By Diana Bowley, Of the NEWS Staff - DOVER-FOXCROFT - One of two Dover-Foxcroft juveniles who confessed to setting fires on April 6 to buildings, farm equipment and recreational vehicles at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds was sentenced Monday in 13th District Court.Aaron McLain, 17, who pleaded guilty last month to arson, was sentenced to Mountain View Youth Development Center until his 19th birthday. Although the fires caused more than $100,000 in damage, no restitution was imposed by Judge Kevin Stitham because of McLain's inability to pay. Sentencing of James McLeod, 16, the second juvenile who confessed to the arson, was continued until July 26. He had been scheduled for sentencing Monday, but his forensic evaluation had not been finished. The court proceedings of the juveniles have been open to the public because of the severity of their crimes. Police said the two juveniles set fire to the milking parlor, hockey rink, fair office, a camper and a building that housed several pieces of antique and new farm equipment and recreational vehicles. The building and the equipment were a total loss, but the fires in the milking parlor, hockey rink and fair office extinguished themselves before doing much damage, firefighters said after the fire. Regarding McLain's forensic evaluation, Piscataquis County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said McLain needs residential treatment. "This report seems to be disturbing in terms of this boy's reaction to what he's faced with, his explanation of his involvement and his general understanding of what normal conduct is," Almy said. "I really think he's got some issues he has to deal with." Defense attorney Randy Day of Garland had suggested that McLain be returned to the care of his parents who were with him Monday in the courtroom. He said the court could impose specific conditions such as house arrest along with counseling. But a counselor who has been working with McLain pointed out that with exception to house arrest, the juvenile had those conditions prior to the arson. Counselor Sue Humphries of Sangerville recommended that McLain remain at the juvenile detention center where he has been held in order to receive residential treatment. "Aaron is a young man that really needs consistency," she said. That also was the recommendation of Deborah Reynolds, juvenile community corrections officer. She said she was unsure if McLain truly understood the impact the fires had on the victims, some of whom were in the courtroom. Bill Wilkins of Charleston told Judge Kevin Stitham that he lost valuable equipment in the fire. The farm equipment was maintained for the pleasure and education of the public, he said. "It was a terrible loss to us," Wilkins said, before he asked that an order of restitution be imposed. |