Former jr. firefighter sentenced for arson

Photo: Jose Leiva, Sun Media Wire

GUILTY — Joshua Michaud, right, a former junior firefighter at the Minot Fire Department, confers with his attorney, Allan Lobozzo, in Androscoggin County Superior Court in Auburn. Michaud entered a guilty plea to an arson charge in December 2011. 

MECHANIC FALLS — A former volunteer junior firefighter who set a Mechanic Falls restaurant on fire in 2010 has been sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay no more than $16,000 restitution by an Androscoggin Superior Court Judge, according to published reports. 

Josh Michaud, 20, of Mechanic Falls pleaded guilty last December to one count of arson, according to reports, after playing a role in setting the Loose Caboose restaurant in Mechanic Falls on fire.

"I just want to apologize to the victims," Michaud said during the August 22 sentencing hearing, according to reports. 

On July 19, 2010, witnesses told police they saw Michaud fully dressed in his firefighting gear before the alarm sounded at the restaurant. 

According to reports, Michaud later admitted to starting the fire with a cigarette lighter. Conditions of his release included staying away from incendiary devices as well as the Maple Street restaurant.

More than 50 firefighters from eight neighboring towns helped to quickly stop the fire from spreading and destroying the building, according to a June 20, 2010 report – the building was insured and sustained about $30,000 in damage. 

Arson is a class A crime, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. 

In December 2011, prosecutors said they would wait to gauge the success of counseling programs Michaud enrolled in before recommending a sentence that might include prison time. 

According to reports, sentencing was delayed last week to allow Michaud to attend an intervention counseling program – he will then return to the Second Nature Program in Utah, where he has been receiving counseling throughout the year. 

The building, which now operates as the Bog Hoot Bar and Grill, contains a dinner area on two levels, a billiards room and a lounge.