PARIS — The town fire chief will appear in court in July to face criminal trespassing and other charges from an incident in Hartford during bear-hunting season last fall.
Norman St. Pierre, 53, of Hartford is scheduled to appear in Oxford County Unified Court on July 11 on misdemeanor counts of discharging a firearm near a dwelling, criminal trespass, having a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and criminal mischief. He also faces a civil charge of failing to put a tag on a bear.
According to a complaint by Maine State Game Warden Tony Gray, St. Pierre unlawfully entered the property of John Sharette on Church Street in Hartford in November 2015, knowingly or recklessly damaged or destroyed a no-trespassing sign and discharged a firearm within 100 yards of a dwelling without permission.
The incident occurred during bear-hunting season.
St. Pierre was arraigned in February but did not have to enter a plea because the charges are misdemeanors.
Discharging a firearm, criminal trespass and having a loaded firearm in a car are all Class E crimes in Maine, the least severe. Each carries a maximum punishment of up to six months incarceration and a $1,000 fine.
Criminal trespass, a Class D crime, is punishable by up to 364 days incarceration and a $2,000 fine.
Messages left with St. Pierre and Gray were not returned. Sarah Glynn, St. Pierre’s attorney, declined to comment on the case.
Interim Town Manager Wade Rainey confirmed that selectmen were aware of the charges. Possible disciplinary actions depend on the outcome of the court case, Rainey said.
St. Pierre has been fire chief for at least a decade and was a fire warden for Hartford.
ccrosby@sunjournal.com
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