ALFRED — Michael Swenson has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for the murder of Old Orchard Beach resident Roger White.

Swenson, 46, pleaded guilty in June to a charge of murder as part of a plea deal that would cap his sentence to 40 years.

White’s body was found underneath a mattress in an empty lot in downtown Old Orchard Beach on April 21, 2012. The lot was near The Whaler pub, where White, 49, and Swenson had been playing pool the night before. White had multiple stab wounds, and according to the State Medical Examiner, died from a stab wound to his chest.

Swenson appeared at York County Superior Court Thursday afternoon for the sentencing wearing a gray suit jacket and tie. He sat expressionless between his two attorneys, Joseph Mekonis and Randall Bates.

Justice John O’Neil presided over the court.

Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese said she believed the murder was a “thought-out, executed plan,” noting that Swenson returned to the bar 12 minutes after he left, and in that short amount of time, stabbed White four times and put White’s body under an abandoned mattress. Swenson was also seen on security camera footage moving a knife from one pocket to the other while White was using the bathroom.

Marchese said she suspected it was probably robbery because White had gotten paid that day and no money was found on his body. She said Swenson had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, and a criminal history that dates back to 1988, including assault, theft and drug charges, violating conditions of release and violating a protective order.

“He has little respect for the criminal justice system,” she said.

Marchese noted the number of friends and family of White in the courtroom.

“Mr. White was loved by a lot of people,” she said.

Three of White’s family and friends spoke out in court.

Lynn Fortin, White’s sister, spoke of how she was “dumbstruck” when she heard her brother was murdered, and described the health issues that have resulted from the tragedy.

“I’m not one for violence at all,” she said, and though she said she knows there is no death penalty in Maine, “I believe Michael Swenson deserves the death penalty.

“To me, justice will not be served until Michael Swenson is six feet in the ground,” she said.

Christopher “Jay” Chase, a lifelong friend of White, said he listened to the police scanner the morning of April 21, 2012 and saw the body, which he later learned was his friend, removed from the scene.

“This haunts me, and I can’t get this out of my head,” he said.

Tammy Polley, the mother of White’s two daughters, said she hoped Swenson would turn around and see the pain he had caused and have that in his memory. Swenson sat quietly and looked forward and did not speak. Mekonis read a letter Swenson had written.

Swenson said in the statement that he was “deeply sorry” for what he had done, and asked if White’s family and friends could find it in their hearts to forgive him.

Swenson stated in the letter that he wanted to take full responsibility for what he did.

“Please take in consideration that I know what I did was wrong,” he said. “I did not run, and I did not hide.”

Swenson said in the letter that he had suffered from drug use and had blackouts that, over the years, were getting longer.

Bates said Swenson was a lifelong resident of Maine and a self-taught carpenter. He described Swenson as having “generally a hard-life existence,” battling with substance abuse issues and working as a laborer.

Bates said Swenson believes he will die in jail, and Bates said if he doesn’t, he’ll die an “old, sad, broken man” because of a single moment where he “lost it.”

He said Swenson did not want his family involved, and instead of reaching out to them for support, “put himself alone on an island.”

Bates said Swenson showed remorse by turning himself in.

“He is resigned to his fate,” he said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].