Man Who Fired at Copter Sentenced

By Katherine Cassidy, Bangor Daily News, Maine

Jun. 7–MACHIAS — A Machias man who fired a shotgun at a Maine Air National Guard helicopter when his house was surrounded by law enforcement personnel last summer pleaded guilty Tuesday in Washington County Superior Court to two felony charges.

Kenneth Faas, 35 at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to a Class C count of criminal threatening and a Class C count of reckless conduct with a firearm in connection with the incident.

Justice Nancy Wheeler sentenced him to three years in the Department of Corrections with all but 10 months suspended, followed by two years of probation with several conditions.

The disposition was a plea agreement between Paul Cavanaugh, the first assistant district attorney, and Norman Tofflon, Faas’ court-appointed attorney.

Faas declined to say anything to the court, when asked.

Faas was arrested last Aug. 6 after holding police at bay for four hours. During the incident on Kennebec Road, Faas took off for the nearby woods with the shotgun.

The Machias Police Department called in other agencies for backup because Faas was considered armed and dangerous.

The Maine State Police’s tactical team of five officers, two wardens with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, a helicopter from the Maine Air National Guard and deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office all responded.

Faas returned to the house on his own, then stepped outside to fire three shots at the helicopter.

After being treated at Down East Community Hospital, Faas was taken to the Washington County Jail, where he has been held on $100,000 bail.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Bangor Daily News, Maine

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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