BANGOR, Maine — The federal judge who sentenced the state’s former top drug prosecutor to 16 years in federal prison in 2011 determined Friday that James M. Cameron will face a longer prison term when he is resentenced, even though nearly half the child pornography counts of which he originally was convicted were overturned.
A sentencing date for Cameron, 52, of Rome has not been set.
In a 51-page order, U.S. District Judge John Woodcock set Cameron’s recommended guideline range at between 24 years and four months and 30 years and five months, which exceeds the 20-year statutory maximum. Cameron faces up to an additional 10 years in prison for cutting off his electronic monitoring bracelet and fleeing nearly two years ago while on bail.
He has been held without bail since his arrest Dec. 2, 2012, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The former assistant attorney general pleaded guilty in February 2013 to a contempt charge in connection with his flight. By pleading guilty, Cameron admitted he cut off his ankle bracelet Nov. 15, 2012, and fled the state, less than 24 hours after he learned the appellate court in Boston upheld seven of the 13 counts on which he was convicted.
If Cameron had not fled, his guideline range would have been between 19 years and seven months and 24 years and five months, Woodcock determined. He also would not have faced an additional decade behind bars on the contempt charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gail Malone, who is prosecuting the case, has said Cameron will not be retried on the six counts that were overturned. When Cameron is resentenced, she will move to have them dismissed, according to court documents.
Woodcock on March 16, 2011, sentenced Cameron to 16 years in prison after finding him guilty on 13 of 16 child pornography counts after a jury-waived trial the previous August. Then, his guideline range was between 21 years and 10 months and 27 years and three months, according to court documents. The statutory maximum also was 20 years.
Cameron immediately appealed his conviction and sentence, and he asked to be released while the appeal was pending.
Woodcock refused to release Cameron, but the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overruled the judge. Cameron was released from a federal prison in Colorado in August 2011. He returned to Maine to live in a camp in Kennebec County.
The appellate court heard oral arguments in May 2012 and released its decision Nov. 14, 2012.
Efforts to reach Malone and Federal Public Defender David Beneman were unsuccessful over the weekend.
It is the practice of the U.S. attorney’s office and the public defender’s office not to comment on a case until after sentencings have been imposed.
James Cameron case timeline
— December 2007: Maine State Police begin investigation into Cameron.
— Feb. 11, 2009: Cameron is indicted by the federal grand jury on 16 child pornography counts.
— Feb. 17, 2009: Cameron pleads not guilty; he is released on $75,000 unsecured bail on the condition he live with brother in Michigan.
— March 2010: Cameron returns to Maine to live with ex-wife.
— June 2010: Cameron waives jury trial.
— Aug. 23, 2010: Cameron is found guilty on 13 counts; bail revoked pending sentencing.
— March 10, 2011: Cameron is sentenced to 16 years in federal prison; notice of appeal filed.
— Aug. 9, 2011: 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals orders release pending appeal.
— May 8, 2012: Oral arguments held before three-judge panel in Boston.
— Nov. 14, 2012: Appellate court throws out six counts in 2-1 decision.
— Nov. 15, 2012: Cameron cuts ankle bracelet, disappears.
— Nov. 19, 2012: U.S. Marshals Service announces warrant issued.
— Dec. 2, 2012: Cameron is captured in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
— Jan. 8, 2013: Cameron pleads not guilty to one count of contempt of court in connection with flight from Maine.
— Feb. 19, 2013: Cameron changes plea on contempt charge to guilty.
— Oct. 17, 2014: U.S. District Judge John Woodcock sets recommended guideline sentence for Cameron at between 24 years and four months and 30 years and five months.