Police say a vandalism spree that stretched through three towns over the weekend was retaliation for a noise complaint made about one of the three men charged.

The men and a juvenile are charged with aggravated criminal mischief after a crime spree that included more than 30 incidents of vandalism — and possibly more — in Anson, Madison and Norridgewock over the weekend.

The four are accused of slashing tires, destroying mailboxes, breaking fences and committing other acts of vandalism that victimized random homeowners in retaliation for a noise complaint that drew police to one of their homes last week, according to Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster.

“The homeowner was upset about that, and there was some alcohol involved,” he said.

Lancaster also said there may be more damage, and property owners who think they might have been victims should contact the sheriff’s office.

Travis Brown, 39, of Madison, was arrested Sunday on a charge of felony Class C aggravated criminal mischief. Brown is the owner of the Preble Avenue home that was the subject of a noise complaint last week that brought police to the residence, Lancaster said.

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Also charged were Jacob Johnston, 20, of Madison; Nathan Hubbard, 18, of Madison; and a 17-year-old.

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office began receiving complaints about the vandalism around 3 a.m. Saturday. Complaints included reports of broken fences, destroyed or damaged mailboxes and slashed tires, Lancaster said.

In Anson, damages were reported on Beane Street, Main Street, Ingalls Street and Hilton Hill Road; and in Madison on Colby Bryant Road, Ward Hill Road, Pine Street, Spring Street and Preble Avenue.

In Norridgewock damage was reported on Ward Hill Road, Walker Road and Madison Road, which is U.S. Route 201.

Cpl. David Cole, the shift supervisor on Saturday, organized the investigation by Deputy Craig Dyer and Deputy Tyler LaFreniere, of the sheriff’s office’s Madison division. Evidence at the scene of one of the homes led them to Brown’s home on Preble Avenue, Lancaster said.

He said the cost of repairing the damage is estimated to be $3,000 to $4,000 total and the investigation is ongoing.

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Cole said over the weekend that the reported incidents were class D crimes, but Lancaster said Tuesday that the charges were elevated to class C felonies because of the extensive damage.

“Normally damages under $1,000 are class D crimes, but we’re looking at this as one incident, so the damage will exceed $1,000, making it a felony,” Lancaster said.

He said the work of the sheriff’s office over the weekend is a good example of a coordinated effort between the main office and its Madison division.

“It was an excellent use of combined resources to complete a comprehensive and successful investigation,” Lancaster said. “There was one supervisor overseeing all three towns and coordinating everyone’s efforts, and in this case it ended with a successful resolution.”

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office asks that anyone who thinks he or she has property damage stemming from the weekend vandalism call the sheriff’s office at 474-9591.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm


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