FARMINGTON — Two of three co-defendants pleaded guilty Monday for their parts in torching a bulldozer and damaging an excavator last fall in Sandy River Plantation.

Devon Clark, 19, of Rangeley and Alexander Allan, 38, of Dallas Plantation appeared in Franklin County Superior Court.

Clark pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated criminal mischief in an agreement that dropped felony counts of arson and a second aggravated criminal mischief.

If the case had gone to trial, there would have been testimony that logging equipment, an excavator and a bulldozer belonging to Randall Cousineau had been parked on his property on Nov. 13, 2017.

On Nov. 14, state fire investigator Kenneth MacMaster interviewed Clark, who admitted to providing transportation to Allan and Michael Stanley, 23, of Gardner, Massachusetts, to the lot but not for the purpose of damaging the equipment, Deputy District Attorney James Andrews said. Clark also picked the men up afterward.

The three were indicted in January.

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Clark’s sentencing is delayed for two years. If he abides by the plea agreement he will be allowed to withdraw his plea and plead to a misdemeanor charge, Judge Maria Woodman said. If he doesn’t comply, he could be sentenced for up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, she said.

Clark’s liability is capped at $5,000, his attorney Jeffrey Wilson said. He also told the court that Clark has earned a certificate for a high school diploma. 

Woodman told him to keep doing what he has to do “to turn things around.” 

Allan pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated criminal mischief in exchange for dismissing felony charges of arson and another aggravated criminal mischief.

MacMaster would have testified that Allan told him operated the excavator that pulled the bulldozer from where it was struck. The excavator had more than $9,000 damage and the bulldozer was destroyed, Andrews said.

Allan is scheduled to be sentenced May 29. An agreement says he will pay $10,000 to the District Attorney’s Office for the benefit of Cousineau before sentencing, Andrews said.

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Stanley, who faces the same charges Allan and Clark initially faced, has not resolved his case.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

Devon Clark (Franklin County Detention Center)

Alexander Allan (Franklin County Detention Center)

A burned bulldozer belonging to Randall Cousineau of Wilton sits on his land in Sandy River Plantation in November 2017. On Monday, Devon Clark, 19, of Rangeley and Alexander Allan, 38, of Dallas Plantation pleaded guilty for their parts in the incident, Deputy District Attorney James Andrews said. (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)

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