A Whitefield man previously convicted of federal drug conspiracy now faces a firearms charge.

Peter Poland, 43, is back behind bars, charged with being a felon in possession of three guns.

On Monday he pleaded not guilty to the charge, and U.S. District Court Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. ordered Poland held without bail pending a hearing May 11 in Bangor.

Poland was indicted on the charge April 27.

He is accused of having a .45-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, a .30-caliber Springfield Armory rifle and a 1903 Springfield Armory Mark 1 rifle on March 7, 2016.

Poland was convicted on Aug. 31, 2012, in U.S. District Court in Maine of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.

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He was sentenced to 40 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and he was released from federal prison on May 16, 2015. He had been held previously on that charge.

According to a report prepared by prosecutors in that case, Poland and other people got oxycodone and other drugs outside Maine and distributed them in Kennebec and Cumberland counties.

On Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Joyce asked that Poland be kept behind bars, saying in the written motion that the charge is a felony involving a firearm and that there is a “serious risk defendant will flee” and a “serious risk (of) obstruction of justice,” and for community safety.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

A motion to revoke the supervised release from the previous conviction is pending.

Poland has been represented by attorney Ronald Bourget.

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In late November 2015, Poland escaped serious injury in a fatal accident in Bernards Township, New Jersey.

On March 9, 2016, Poland was arrested by a Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy on charges of failing to stop for an officer, operating under the influence and terrorizing after being stopped on Mills Road in Whitefield.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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