PORTLAND – A Gorham man who prompted an evacuation around the Eastern Promenade this summer pleaded guilty to charges of terrorizing and making a false public alarm or report Wednesday.
Christopher Sanborn, 30, was sentenced to two years with all but 90 days suspended on the first charge and a 90-day concurrent sentence on the second.
District Court Judge E. Mary Kelly also ordered Sanborn to two years’ probation. The conditions include mental health and substance abuse treatment if recommended by his probation officer and a ban on using alcohol and drugs.
On July 29, police evacuated the park and playground on the Eastern Promenade after a mental health crisis hotline got a call from someone who described himself as a suicidal Iraq war veteran.
Police also blocked off several nearby streets and set up their command center at the East End Community School.
The caller, who gave his name as Thomas Mackey, said he was by the wastewater treatment plant near the Eastern Promenade, had a gun and would shoot any police who tried to approach him, according to Deputy District Attorney Meg Elam.
Another call to the hotline came from a man who claimed to be Mackey’s commanding officer from the Marines. The caller said he was worried about Mackey because he had missed a mental health appointment. The caller said he was at Riverton Trolley Park and would meet officers there.
Police became suspicious of Sanborn, who was pretending to be the commanding officer, after they met him at the park. They asked to see his cell phone and found that both hotline calls were from the phone, Elam said.
Sanborn eventually admitted to making the calls, she said. He was not armed and had no military connection.
Defense attorney Anthony Sineni said his client suffers from a traumatic brain injury and has a history of mental illness.
“I think there were a lot of things going on in his life that were causing distress and stress,” he said. “It was a cry for help.”
Staff Writer Ann S. Kim can be contacted at 791-6383 or at akim@pressherald.com
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