AUGUSTA — An older man who crashed a Corvette into his then-girlfriend’s house last June and led police on chases through several towns was sentenced Monday on a number of charges relating to those events during a hearing at the Capital Judicial Center.

Edwin Munson, 68, of Winthrop, who made headlines previously for having wayward cattle in Readfield, was ordered to serve an initial 146 days in jail, with the remainder of the four-year sentence suspended. He was placed on probation for two years, and that is to be followed by a one-year period of administrative release imposed for a terrorizing offense. If he violates that release, he could be ordered to serve an additional 364-day sentence that was suspended.

A Corvette driven by Edwin Munson, 67, of Winthrop, plowed into the front of his then-girlfriend's house on June 3, 2015, on Annabessacook Road in Winthrop. Photo courtesy of Maine State Police

EDWIN MUNSON

Munson’s driver’s license was suspended for 30 days as well, and he was ordered to pay $3,087 in restitution, and fined $1,150.

Munson had pleaded guilty to two counts each of eluding an officer, and aggravated criminal mischief, and one count each of driving to endanger and terrorizing. One count of driving to endanger was dismissed. All the charges were related to events occurring on June 3, 2015, in Gardiner, Litchfield and Winthrop.

Munson was arrested that day after driving the vehicle into the ground floor of the Annabessacook Road house in Winthrop.

According to investigators at the time, troopers had gone to the Litchfield home of the woman’s son in response to reports that Munson was screaming threats to burn down the man’s house and shoot him. However, Munson left in the Corvette when told that police were on their way.

Troopers saw the vehicle on Route 126 in West Gardiner and stopped it there, but Munson sped off and avoided a road block by making a U-turn and then rammed a state police cruiser and struck a second.

Winthrop police spotted the car 30 minutes later on Main Street in Winthrop and sought to stop it there.

However, Munson then fled onto Highland Avenue, traveling briefly on U.S. Route 202 and then heading south on Annabessacook Road, entering the driveway of the home he shared with his then-girlfriend. Munson sped up the driveway, crashing into the side of the building, Winthrop police said. No one was home at the time.

In September, while the charges were pending, the woman’s family formally objected to any change in bail condition that would permit Munson to be near her or her family.

Munson has generated publicity in recent years for his dispute with the town of Readfield about his loose cows wandering onto public roads. In 2013 Munson was ordered to pay $2,500 after Readfield took Munson to court. Munson acknowledged in the judgment that his cattle had wandered from his pastures and either crossed the roads or trespassed on private property, resulting in at least eight violations of the state animal trespass law from Sept. 4, 2012, to May 26, 2013.

He subsequently was fined $50 last August for a conviction of animal trespass May 24 in Readfield. That charge came after a car hit one of Munson’s loose cows. The cows were removed later.

In a separate hearing also Monday at the Capital Judicial Center, April M. Dupont, 37, of Farmingdale, was sentenced on charges of unlawful trafficking in heroin, operating while license suspended or revoked and violating conditions of release. All the offenses occurred Nov. 4, 2015, in Augusta.

She was ordered to serve an initial 30 days in jail and the remainder of the three-year sentence was suspended and she was placed on two years of probation. Dupont also was fined $900.

An additional charge of unlawful trafficking in heroin on the same date was dismissed in exchange for the plea.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

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