By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
A former volunteer firefighter with the Presque Isle Fire Department who was charged in connection with a blaze that destroyed Northeast Packaging Co.’s Rice Street facility in the Star City in November 2009 was sentenced on July 21, in Caribou Superior Court to 10 years in prison, with all but three years suspended, followed by four years of probation.
Timothy MacFarline, 25, of Easton, appeared before Superior Court Justice E. Allen Hunter, who in addition to prison time, ordered the former fireman to pay the owners of the structure more than $1 million in restitution. The building had been assessed for tax purposes in 2009 at $312,000. The value of its contents were not disclosed.
MacFarline was represented by Presque Isle Attorney James Dunleavy.
Hunter also ordered MacFarline, who worked for Northeast Packaging Co. at the time of the fire Nov. 13, 2009, not to have any contact with the owners of the business.
The highly-flammable materials kept firefighters from several communities, including Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, Mapleton, Easton, Mars Hill and Ashland, on the scene for over 12 hours, as they worked to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported.
Two days after the blaze, officials with the State Fire Marshal’s Office had enough evidence to charge MacFarline with arson at the warehouse that housed chemicals and bales of paper products. At the time of the arrest, Tim Lowell, a senior investigator with the SFMO, reported the arrest was made possible, following witness statements and collection of evidence, including surveillance video footage from a neighboring business. The arrest was made following joint investigation by the SFMO, PIFD, Maine State Police and Presque Isle Police Department.
MacFarline was indicted in January 2010 and pleaded guilty in October 2010 to the charge of arson.
According to District Attorney Todd Collins, if MacFarline does not make regular and reasonable restitution payments once released from prison, he could be found in violation of probation, which could lead to more jail time.
MacFarline’s also faces additional charges related to the theft of between $90,000 and $95,000 from a Caribou residence. Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan reported on May 6 that MacFarline had been arrested by Caribou officers following a three-and-a-half-month investigation of the theft of cash from a Caribou residence that occurred sometime between late 2010 and early 2011.
MacFarline was charged with one count of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, a Class B felony, along with a second charge of theft by receiving stolen property, also a Class B felony, as well as violation of condition of release. Bail was set at $5,000 cash or $50,000 single surety. Each of the Class B crimes is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
MacFarline’s wife, Crystal MacFarline, also of Easton, was also charged with theft, a Class B felony, and is free on bail. Both were indicted earlier this month and later entered not guilty pleas on those charges. The primary investigator on the case was Officer Craig Peterson, CPD. Assisting with the arrest was Trooper Kim Espling, Maine State Police.
