Orland man gets 18 months for having explosives, guns

Orland man gets 18 months for having explosives, guns


By Bill Trotter
BDN Staff

ELLSWORTH, Maine — An Orland man convicted last fall of threatening another man and of possessing explosives and a machine gun has been sentenced to serve 18 months in prison, according to documents in Hancock County Superior Court.

Chad Saunders, 27, received an overall sentence on Wednesday of three years in prison for his conviction of criminal use of explosives, with half of the sentence suspended. He also was given concurrent 11-month sentences for convictions on terrorizing and possession of a machine gun.

As part of his sentence, Saunders also was ordered by Justice Kevin Cuddy to serve a year of probation upon his release. No fines or fees were imposed as part of the sentence.

A jury found Saunders guilty on all three counts at the end of a two-day criminal trial in October.

The charges stemmed from a Nov. 7, 2008, incident at an Orland home when Saunders threatened to shoot another man. Police were called to the scene and found explosive grenades and a fully automatic Bushmaster machine gun at the home, where Saunders was living at the time, according to court documents. Saunders also had a loaded .45-caliber Kimber handgun in his possession when police arrived, the documents indicated.

Saunders had to forfeit ownership of both the Kimber handgun and the Bushmaster machine gun as part of his sentence.

The charge of criminal use of explosives stems from Saunders’ possession of the grenades. He was not accused of detonating any explosives or using them in any other way, prosecutors have said.

Saunders declined to address the court at his sentencing, according to court documents.

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Comments
5 comments on this item

Hysteria. He recieved a larger sentence for just a threat than one who commits a gangland murder. Go figure.

Actually quite lenient. Look up Federal minimum for just having an illegal machine gun. Let alone hand grenades or threatening to kill someone with a hand gun.

Wow, people with machine guns and grenades get less time then people selling pot. Seriously something wrong with our justice system!! Guess a few ounces of marijuana is more dangerous then guns and bombs these days!!

well yes maybe he had these,, but never used them,, did serve our country x2 front line. See this is my son and I would stand behind him threw thick and thin,,,,,, very proud mom,,,,,,,,and still love him with all my heart.

Let's just hope that they are going to keep a close eye on him once he gets out. Is he returning to Orland?

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