ROCKLAND, Maine — A California man who goes by the name of Pro Me Thius pleaded no contest Friday to a charge that he refused to leave an encampment at the Achorn Cemetery.
The hearing for the 50-year-old North Hollywood man consumed much of the court time set aside Friday in Rockland District Court for suspects who had yet to make bail.
Thius was arrested on Halloween at about 4 p.m. after Police Officer Lloyd Daniels responded to a complaint from an official with Achorn Cemetery that a man had set up a tent on the southwest corner of the cemetery off Old County Road.
When an officer approached Thius, he became vocal and contended that a cemetery cannot own property, according to the affidavit filed in court.
Rockland Police Chief Bruce Boucher and Detective Sgt. Chris Young also arrived and tried to convince the man to leave but he continued to refuse and was arrested for criminal trespass.
He was taken to Knox County Jail.
At Friday’s hearing, Thius claimed the arrest was improper and repeatedly demanded his right to habeas corpus. Habeas corpus gives citizens the right to demand to be brought before a court when charged.
District Court Judge Peter Darvin cautioned Thius to avoid making comments that could be used against him. Eventually after consulting with defense attorney Larry Frier, Thius agreed to plead no contest to the criminal trespass charge in exchange for a jail sentence of 48 hours with credit for the time he has already spent in jail since Wednesday afternoon.
Frier asked that Thius be allowed to return to the cemetery to collect his belongings.
The defense attorney also asked the judge to waive the $10 victim fee, because Thius is homeless and does not work. Judge Darvin replied that he does not waive such fees, but gave Thius 30 days to come up with the money.
“Don’t ignore this or it could come back to bite you from behind,” the judge said.
The affidavit also stated that there is an outstanding warrant in California for the defendant but that it is not one for which the state would extradite him. The report did not state what Thius was wanted for in California.
Thius was arrested on the outstanding warrant in June in Belfast but a charge of being a fugitive from justice was later dismissed in Belfast District Court, according to the Bangor Daily News archives. In a BDN story about the Belfast arrest, a Los Angeles Police Department official said Thius was wanted for loitering, but may have other active charges against him that she was not able to share with the media.
Also during the Friday hearings, Judge Darvin ordered Victor J. Pendleton, 21, of Belfast to be held without bail following his arrest Thursday morning in Rockport for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and carrying a concealed weapon.
Pendleton was stopped by Rockport Police Chief Mark Kelley after police received a report that a stolen vehicle was heading east on Route 17.
I have officially seen it all now…hahahahaha !
“At Friday’s hearing, Thius claimed the arrest was improper and
repeatedly demanded his right to habeas corpus. Habeas corpus gives
citizens the right to demand to be brought before a court when charged.”
Someone watches too much television. He asked for a trial….at his trial.
It was an arraignment, not a trial. Either way…
A habeas corpus hearing is not a trial, but a hearing to determine if a person’s detention is legal. In other words, a defendant has a right to challenge the state’s right to hold him.
We mere mortals just don’t understand poor Prometheus. He’s an interesting character in greek mythology.
Im sure the judges stern words and a dirty look will
straighten Mr. Thius right out.
Lots of outstanding warrants for the camper but still
not worth the trouble to ship him West.
So we are stuck with him.
Reading the story and the comments only raises more concerns. This guy is loose in the Mid Coast area ??
He is asking for help… and wanting a warm place to stay.
Florida….That’s a warm place….He can stay there!
actually that’s what the claim was…WRONG but don’t talk to me about it… just keep trespassing
It WAS, the most beautiful place you could imagine and set for the winter.
Please provide documentation of Achorn Cemetery property claim of ownership and the applicable business prospect or use made of the property for the necessary claim of ownership of property… particularly property not in direct proportion to the cemetery lot itself.
ref; October 31, 2012
Rockland Police Arrest w/o Achorn representation present, accessed by Police through private drive and private property NOT owned by Achorn Cemetery yet reported to be an instruction by an Achorn Cemetery staff member. A vague signed memorandum, not fully read by the me, the defendant was observed before my no contest plea including dropping the second trespassing charge which claimed that signs and fences were ignored.
at the risk of sounding uneducated or out the loop, does Pro Me Thius have a special meaning?? Many odd characters in the world.. Doesn’t mean they’re bad, just interesting… He must have some sort of education or interest in reading or maybe just his prior connection with the court system or he most likely wouldn’t have known about habeas corpus??
He’s done so much for us mortals…can’t we just overlook this minor infraction? According to mythology he already has one conviction and paid dearly for a previous crime. I guess this counts in the Maine courts? We’ll see this one again…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus
From Wikipedia: Prometheus (Greek: Προμηθεύς) is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence, and as a champion of mankind.[1]
C’mon, let’s give the guy a break. If not for him, I wouldn’t be able to start a fire in my stove to keep my family warm, not to mention, none of us would be here if not for Pro Me Theus creating all of mankind. I do question the intelligence part though.
yep.. no way out but to learn about common law and a failed attempt at being jailed without a complaint just to prove something that is unprovable unless I actually do commit a crime…over 20 years and I end up here. I appreciate all the comments. My work has been censored and my life destroyed. I do receive $725/mo : ) Not quite enough to pay for Section 8 which was taken from me after receiving 1 year in 2003. Claimed a FAILED to stay a whole year. Just trying to wake people up… a little common law, mayan calendar, reverse speech and a 3 day work week. Hate me?
or maybe a thought disorder.
Hilarius!!!!
I think you mean, “Hi La Rius.”
I like his new legal name. Pro Me Thius. It jut works well when they refer to him as “Thius” throughout the article.
Occupy Graveyard.
Put a yellow rain slicker on him and a cappuchino in his hand and he’d be no different than half the folks walking around downtown Rockland. People would think he operated one of the galleries.
Why would a guy from sunny California come to gray, rainy, getting chilly Maine this time of year?
homeless people an empty building equal epic fail. who is trying to help him find a spot of shelter? maybe gordon mank…running in the election and also runs the homeless shelter in rockport? ya right.
We can all give a little money pay his fine,than buy a bus ticket to FLA. Any takers….