A former Winthrop man pleaded guilty today to a January home invasion in which he and two 14-year-old boys, all wearing masks, entered a 71-year-old woman’s apartment late at night and threatened her, demanding drugs.

Christopher R. Harmon, 37, of Dayton and Lyman, was sentenced in Kennebec County Superior Court in Augusta to eight years in prison, with all but three years suspended and three years’ probation for the Jan. 5 robbery and burglary in Winthrop.

The victim told police the three people carried firearms and demanded she get on the floor and remain still while they searched.

When she convinced them she had no drugs, they demanded money, so she gave them two $5 bills from her purse, Deputy District Attorney Fernand LaRochelle told Justice Michaela Murphy. LaRochelle said the victim was scared by the threats but otherwise uninjured.

The intruders left just after midnight, and the victim called Winthrop police, who saw three sets of footprints in the snow leading into and away from the woman’s apartment. They also found an Airsoft pistol, which fires plastic pellets, discarded outside.

The woman said one robber did almost all the talking and she recognized Harmon’s voice because he was a former neighbor.

Police talked to Harmon later that day, finding Airsoft guns in his residence and seizing footwear to compare with the footprints, LaRochelle said.

After the State Police Crime Lab matched the items, Harmon was arrested. LaRochelle said Harmon later admitted the robbery. “He said the purpose was to obtain drugs; he had a drug problem,” LaRochelle said.

On June 13, while Harmon was in Saco, he contacted one of the boys in violation of bail conditions, LaRochelle said.

The prosecutor told the judge that the two boys, both 14, were charged in the robbery, but their cases remain pending.

A number of other people were sentenced in separate hearings today in Kennebec County Superior Court:

• Kyle E. Feeney, 25, of Winthrop, unlawful possession of scheduled drug Jan. 31 in Winthrop; 364 day jail sentence, all but 30 days suspended, one year probation, $400 fine.

• Samuel T. Hinds, 23, of Chelsea, domestic violence assault Oct. 9, 2011, in Augusta; 180 day jail sentence, all suspended, one year probation.

• Michelle E. Lancaster, 30, of Skowhegan, unsworn falsification Dec. 6, in Waterville; seven day jail sentence, $500 fine.

• Justin E. Meserve, 30, of Winslow, three counts of violating conditions of release, two counts of violating a protective order, and one count of assault, all between May 12 and July 4 in Waterville, Winslow and Norridgewock; 171 day jail sentence, $300 fine.

Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com

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