A Fairfield man was found guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in the armed robbery of a Skowhegan credit union three years ago.

Forrest T. Goodwin, 33, faces up to 12 1/2 years in prison as the driver of a Yamaha motorcycle used in the getaway.

Goodwin’s partner in the crime, Paul J. Garland, 27, of Oakland, pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery in April.

Goodwin, known as Teddy according to court documents, was found not guilty of the more serious charge of aiding and abetting an armed bank robbery, Assistant U.S. Attorney James McCarthy said by phone Wednesday afternoon. That charge would have carried a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Goodwin’s lawyer Stephen C. Smith, of Bangor, said he will appeal the guilty verdict, which was returned around noon, after sentencing. The trial began on Monday.

“Obviously we’re very pleased the jury agreed with us and found him not guilty of the far more serious charge of aiding and abetting the bank robbery,” Smith said. “We intend to appeal the relatively smaller charge of being an accessory after the fact; there was sufficient evidence to acquit on everything.”

McCarthy said Goodwin’s conviction as an accessory after the fact of an armed bank robbery means that he knew Garland had robbed the credit union and helped him get away.

Smith said the prosecution presented no evidence that Goodwin knew what Garland was going to do and that will be included in the appeal.

Garland robbed the Taconnet Federal Credit Union on U.S. Route 201 was on June 10, 2009. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses while wielding a knife and yelling “faster, faster” to tellers as he banged on the counter.

No one was hurt in the robbery and Garland left with $9,147 in cash, according to court documents.

Garland escaped as a passenger on the motorcycle, driven by Goodwin. The bike was later discovered, along with clothing the men were wearing, ditched on a tote road off Middle Road in Fairfield. License plates attached to the motorcycle were registered to another vehicle in Goodwin’s name, McCarthy said.

Both men were arrested in Fairfield in November and later were indicted by a U.S. District Court grand jury in Bangor.

McCarthy said Goodwin will remain in the custody of U.S. marshals pending the preparation of a pre-sentencing report and sentencing. Goodwin’s conviction also carries a maximum fine of $125,000 and supervised release, or federal probation, of up to two years. Restitution may also be ordered.

Sentencing will be in two or three months, McCarthy said. Garland has not yet been sentenced. He faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Copy the Story Link