WATERVILLE — In a case that has culminated with guilty pleas, two men were sentenced for their roles in a January arson that damaged a duplex residence in Waterville, officials said Monday.
Aaron Pelotte, 27, of Cornville, and Devon Pomerleau, 24, of Benton, were taken into custody on March 13 after a thorough investigation led to charges of arson stemming from the Jan. 29 fire at 10 Moody Street.
The Waterville Fire Department had responded to the scene at approximately 10:35 p.m. that night, quickly extinguishing the fire and preserving vital evidence.
Following the efforts of the fire department, Fire Marshal Investigators conducted an origin and cause investigation.
They determined the fire began on the exterior of the duplex, with gasoline identified as the accelerant.
Confirmation of gasoline’s presence came from the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory.
The collaborative investigation included the Waterville Fire Department, Waterville Police Department, Maine State Police Crime Laboratory, and the Kennebec County District Attorney’s Office, leading to an indictment by the Kennebec County Grand Jury.
Pelotte recently pled guilty to the charge of arson and was sentenced to ten years in prison, with all but four years suspended, followed by four years of probation upon release.
Pomerleau entered a similar plea, receiving a sentence of ten years with all but nine months suspended, and will also serve four years of probation after his release.
