Lauren MacArthur, Armed Career Criminal, Maine 2012

Bangor, Maine – In a shocking turn of events, Lauren MacArthur, a 29-year-old Bangor man, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for possessing stolen firearms, violating federal law as an Armed Career Criminal. The crime dates back to January 20, 2012, when MacArthur was caught driving at high speeds and attempting to evade law enforcement.

According to court records, MacArthur was driving a grey sedan on I-95 in Old Town when a Maine State Police trooper noticed that the license plate was covered with dirt and difficult to read. When the trooper activated his emergency lights, MacArthur accelerated away at a high rate of speed, passing several vehicles. A prolonged chase ensued, during which MacArthur drove at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, ran red traffic lights, and crossed intersections at high rates of speed.

At one point, MacArthur crossed over an oncoming lane of traffic and drove into a bridge guardrail. The vehicle returned to its proper travel lane and the chase continued for a short distance before the trooper was able to ram it off the road. MacArthur fled, but the trooper caught and arrested him. Law enforcement officers recovered two loaded rifles that MacArthur had thrown from the vehicle during the chase.

An investigation by the Maine State Police, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives revealed that MacArthur had stolen the firearms on the day of the chase from a home in Medway. MacArthur pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment on November 26, 2012.

As a result of MacArthur’s guilty plea, he was sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal under federal law, which carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years. MacArthur’s 18-year sentence includes five years of supervised release. The investigation was a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies.

The case against MacArthur serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of violent crime and the importance of community vigilance in preventing such crimes from occurring. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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