BELFAST — The case of a man accused of taking a fifth-grade classroom hostage in Stockton Springs is now in the hands of a jury.

Fifty-seven-year-old Randall Hofland of Searsburg is accused of holding 11 children at gunpoint on Oct. 31, 2008.

When he showed at the school, Hofland had been on the lam for eight days after allegedly pointing a gun at a police officer during a routine traffic stop.

Hofland, who was defending himself against 41 criminal charges, was eventually tackled by a State Police trooper. No children were hurt.

The Bangor Daily News says if Hofland is convicted of any of the charges, another trial will be held to determine if he was insane at the time of the crime.


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