A defendant in a Boothbay robbery case will remain in jail until his trial after his third arrest in six months for alcohol-related bail violations.
Michael L. Brewer, 58, pleaded guilty to two counts of violation of condition of release on Thursday, July 31 in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset. He was sentenced to 20 days in jail and a $40 fine.
Brewer had been released from jail on June 26. His bail conditions prohibited the possession or use of alcohol and required him to live at an address in Union.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies Ryan Chubbuck and Jared Mitkus arrested Brewer at Lake Pemaquid Campground in Damariscotta early July 7, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Wright said. Brewer was intoxicated at the time of his arrest.
“He stated to the officers that he had been living there since he had been released from jail,” Wright said. “Mr. Brewer had no intention of following the conditions that were set.”
Brewer’s attorney, Thaddeus Day, asked the court to allow Brewer to post bail again. Shortly after his release on June 26, Brewer and his girlfriend got engaged, then married, Day said.
“Mr. Brewer admittedly has an issue with alcohol and he knew it was against his conditions, but he was excited about getting married and he drank alcohol,” Day said.
Superior Court Justice Daniel Billings said Brewer’s excuse in June was that a friend had recently died. “So he drinks if things are going well and he drinks if things are not going well,” Billings said.
Day argued for Brewer’s release with strict conditions that he report to the Boothbay Harbor Police Department every day and live with a Boothbay resident who would provide additional supervision.
“I think that those very stringent requirements would be easily measurable and create all the safety the community would need in policing him on bail,” Day said.
Billings declined Day’s proposal. Brewer “was given opportunities twice before and continues to not comply with his bail conditions,” Billings said. “His bail will be revoked.”
The robbery case could go to trial in October.
Brewer faces charges of class A robbery and class B burglary in connection with a March 17, 2013 home invasion on Barters Island in Boothbay. He has denied the charges.
Brewer has since been arrested on Jan. 20 and May 11 for bail violations and other charges. He has pleaded guilty to the bail violations and a charge of refusing to submit to arrest or detention – physical force related to the Jan. 20 incident.
Last month, Wright said Brewer “is typically referred to as the person with the longest criminal record in Lincoln County.” Brewer’s record includes a 1988 conviction for attempting to commit murder, along with numerous convictions for lesser crimes.
Wright has said the state will ask for the maximum sentence or something close if it obtains a conviction at trial. A class A crime carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
