PORTLAND
Three face charges in theft of computers from school
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Police have charged three people in connection with the theft of two dozen laptop computers and 15 desktop models, worth $40,000, from the Hall Elementary School.
Police were alerted to a break-in at the school by an alarm at 2:40 a.m. Officers saw people in dark clothes running from the school, pushing a cart loaded with 24 laptops, police said. The fleeing burglars left the laptops behind.
Police searched the area and found a car running in the driveway of 30 Sunset Ave. that had several Apple desktop computers and other items stolen from the school, such as expensive projectors, inside. Police found four people in the car and charged three people – two adults and a 16-year-old.
Police charged Isaiah David Taylor, 18, of Portland, the owner of the car, with burglary and Daniel Perez, 20, of Portland with criminal trespass. The juvenile is being held in the Long Creek Youth Development Center.
Taylor is being held on $1,000 bail and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Monday. Perez is free on $100 bail.
Portland man admits role in promoting prostitution
Federal prosecutors say a Portland man has pleaded guilty to driving women from Maine to Massachusetts so they could engage in prostitution.
Samuel Gravely pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland to a charge of interstate travel to promote prostitution.
Prosecutors say that in March, Gravely, 27, drove the women to Boston, where he expected them to engage in sex for a fee.
One of the women, upon learning what was expected of her, feigned illness, got away and contacted police. Gravely was arrested in October.
He is scheduled to be sentenced in March and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.
AUGUSTA
Housing complex resident charged with starting fire
Police say a 21-year-old woman started a fire that forced about 15 people to evacuate a housing complex in Augusta.
Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said Friday that Christina Karod is charged with arson in connection with the fire that happened about 8 p.m. Thursday. He said Karod, who lives in a room on the third floor of the 15-unit house, set fire to several books in a reading area and a curtain on an exit door, both on the second floor.
She was arrested a few hours later.
Damage was minimal, no one was injured and the residents were allowed to return to their rooms. Karod was being held on $2,500 bail.
CARRABASSETT VALLEY
Sugarloaf opens for season, plans new lifts, new terrain
The Sugarloaf ski resort opened Friday for its 63rd season.
The largest ski area east of the Rocky Mountains opened Friday thanks to temperatures in the teens and low 20s this week. It will be open seven days a week.
Sugarloaf employed new snowmaking technology this year as part of its 10-year development plan. The resort also plans to install new lifts and expand the ski area onto Burnt Mountain.
LEWISTON
Somali immigrant wins seat on school board in recount
A man originally from Somalia has become the first African immigrant to win elected office in Lewiston, a city that has long had a significant Somali population.
Write-in candidate Jama Mohamed picked up 10 additional votes at a Thursday recount to win a seat on the school committee.
Mohamed, 29, will be sworn into office in January.
Mohamed told the Sun Journal that serving on the committee is “a lot of responsibility.”
Mohamed came to the United States in 2004 and to Lewiston in 2008. The father of six works as a case manager and interpreter at Trinity Jubilee Center and is co-founder of a student mentoring organization.
A Somali-American woman previously served on the city’s school committee, but she was appointed, not elected.
READFIELD
Hunter missing overnight found half-mile from home
A lost hunter has been found after spending a night in the woods in Readfield.
The Maine Warden Service says George Turner, 45, was found at 7:45 a.m. Friday about a half-mile from his home. Authorities said he is in good condition and was not injured.
The Warden Service was called early Friday morning after friends and family had searched for him when he didn’t return home from hunting on Thursday.
Game wardens were notified at about 1:30 a.m. and started searching at daybreak.
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