NEWS RELEASE from the Maine Department of Public Safety
from Spokesman Steve McCausland - 626-3811A four month investigation coordinated between Maine State Police, the York County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has led to the indictment of eight persons on multiple offenses ranging from firearm violations to burglaries.
The investigation began in November when two men and a woman were arrested for burglaries committed in York, Cumberland, and Oxford counties. Twenty firearms were recovered by police, but other guns were believed transported to Massachusetts to be sold for drugs. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department and Buxton Police also assisted in the investigation.
On November 21, 2014, CHRISTOPHER MICHAUD, COLE MESERVE, and AMBER MESERVE were arrested for their involvement in the burglaries in the three counties. Search warrants were later served in Buxton by the York County Sheriff’s Department and in Limerick by the State Police. Numerous stolen items were recovered during these searches including 7 stolen firearms. On November 24, 2014, York County Sheriff’s Deputies recovered 13 more stolen guns from a Buxton resident.
Investigators believe the stolen guns were brought to individuals at a home in Buxton where the guns were then sold for money and drugs to include heroin. After the arrest of the MESERVES and MICHAUD, the guns were transported from Buxton to a home in Limington to hide them from police. It is believed that some of the guns were transported to Massachusetts to be sold for heroin.
The indictments were handed down by a York County Superior Court grand jury this week. The indicted are ---
1. DALE PINKHAM Sr. (54, Buxton) 12 counts of Receiving a Stolen Firearm, 1 count of Conspiracy to Receive a Stolen Firearm.
2. LOUIS COOK (50, Buxton) 12 counts of Receiving a Stolen Firearm, 1 count of Conspiracy to Receive a Stolen Firearm, and 1 count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. COOK was also summonsed during the investigation for Possession of Heroin.
3. DAVID RUSH (43, Limington) 12 counts of Receiving a Stolen Firearm, 1 count of Conspiracy to Receive a Stolen Firearm
4. RAYMOND PINKHAM (21, Buxton) 1 count Conspiracy to Receive a Stolen Firearm
5. ROBERT PINKHAM (19, Buxton) 1 count of Conspiracy to Receive a Stolen Firearm
6. CHRISTOPHER MICHAUD (23, Limerick) 5 counts of Burglary of a Dwelling, 1 count of Attempted Burglary of a Dwelling, 17 counts of Theft of a Firearm, 4 counts of Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer
7. COLE MESERVE (21, Limerick) 5 counts of Burglary of a Dwelling, 17 counts of Theft of a Firearm, and 4 counts of Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer.
8. AMBER MESERVE (22, Limerick) 5 counts of Burglary of a Dwelling, 17 counts of Theft of a Firearm, 4 counts of Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer.
CHRISTOPHER MICHAUD, COLE MESERVE, AMBER MESERVE, and RAYMOND PINKHAM are all being held at the York County Jail on these charges. DALE PINKHAM Sr. is presently serving a prison sentence on an unrelated investigation. ROBERT PINKHAM, DAVID RUSH, and LOUIS COOK will be arraigned at a later date.
