A couple formerly from Windham who now live on a Caribbean island were sentenced to federal prison Thursday on firearms charges from their time in Maine.

Theodore “Ted” Thomes, 56, was sentenced by Judge D. Brock Hornby in U.S. District Court in Portland to serve 27 months in prison for possession of firearms by a felon.

His wife, Renee Thomes, 52, was sentenced to 30 days in prison for illegally transferring those firearms to an out-of-state resident.

The Thomeses, who now live on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, stole several handguns belonging to a neighbor for whom they were serving as caretakers sometime before July 2, 2011, and brought them to another neighbor’s home for safekeeping, according to court records.

Theodore Thomes, as a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing any firearms.

In June 2012, Renee Thomes retrieved the guns and gave them to a New Hampshire auctioneer, who sold them the next month to provide the Thomes $11,000 in sale proceeds, court records say.

Advertisement

The three guns were a Colt Police Positive .22-caliber revolver, a Smith & Wesson Victory .38 Special revolver and a Mauser Werke P08 9mm pistol.

Theodore Thomes pleaded guilty Sept. 30. Renee Thomes pleaded guilty Oct. 1.

The judge also sentenced both Thomes to serve three years of supervised released upon completion of their prison terms.

Scott Dolan can be reached at 791-6304 or at:

sdolan@pressherald.com

Twitter: @scottddolan


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.