Pleasant Point Man Sentenced for Starting Downeast Wildfires

A Pleasant Point man has been sentenced for his role in a rash of wildfires that occurred in Washington County last summer. Timothy Tiess, age 37, entered into a plea agreement in Washington County Superior Court in Machias earlier this weekand was sentenced to serve 18 months in jail. According to forest rangers, Tiess was accused of starting fires in Marion Township, Edmunds Township, Day Block Township, Pembroke and Perry in July, 2011.
Tiess was originally charged with 5 counts of arson and one count of aggravated criminal mischief for starting a series of wildfires in Downeast Maine. Tiess became the subject of an intensive investigation that involved undercover surveillance and a multi-agency task force led by Maine’s forest rangers. Tiess, who served as a volunteer firefighter with the Pleasant Point Fire Department, pled guilty to the single felony count of aggravated criminal mischief (Class C), while the 5 counts of arson were dismissed in the plea deal. He was sentenced to 9 months in the Washington County jail and received a consecutive sentence of an additional 9 months on a probation revocation for a previous charge in Kennebec County. Tiess is currently in custody at the Washington County Jail and began serving his sentence on Tuesday.
According to Ranger Sgt. Courtney Hammond of the Maine Forest Service’s Jonesboro office, Tiess became a subject of investigation last summer after witnesses described a vehicle similar to Tiess’ racing away from several of the fire scenes. Tiessalso became the primary suspect early in the investigation due to his three prior convictions for other fire related incidents from the 1990s, which involved structures in southern Maine. Hammond said that Forest Rangers conducted a search warrant at his Pleasant Point residence in August and seized evidence, including a vehicle, which supported the charges against Tiess. He went on to say that forest rangers were assisted by the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office, the Maine State Police, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. Hammond coordinated the investigation, which also involved 8 forest rangers and forest ranger pilots. “The fire starts were in a large geographic area and were set sporadically over the period. Quick response by forest rangers and volunteer firefighters kept the fires from growing into dangerous incidents”, Hammond added.
“I am satisfied that the hard work of our forest rangers has resulted in this conviction,” said Chief Forest Ranger Bill Hamilton, “and we feel that the residents of Downeast Maine can take comfort in that fact.” He added that forest rangers were very pleased that they received tips from the public and assistance from other law enforcement agencies.
Maine Forest Rangers serve in the Department of Conservation, Maine Forest Service, Forest Protection Division. Their mission is to protect Maine’s citizens and its natural resources through wildfire control, natural resource law enforcement, incident management and disaster response. Citizens can provide confidential information on suspicious wildfire by calling with Wildfire Arson Hotline at 1-800-987-0257.

Arrested: Jon Wright

On the morning of 3-7-2012 acting on a tip, Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office went to the Ackley Road in East Machias to find Mr. Jon Wright, DOB 10/6/1986, of Machiasport for the purpose of conducting a bail check on him. Mr. Wright is currently on active conditions of release for trafficking in Oxycontin.

Upon responding to a wooded area off the Ackley Road Mr. Wright’s camper was located along a skidder trail. Mr. Wright was believed to be inside the camper but would not respond and would not allow Deputies inside. During this process evidence of Fish and Game violations were discovered and the Maine Warden Service was requested to respond as well.

Once other units arrived entry was made into the camper and Mr. Wright was arrested for violations of his conditions of release. A search warrant of the property was then obtained by the Sheriff’s Office to search for drugs and contraband, deer and deer parts, firearms, ammunition, deer processing equipment, wild birds, wild bird parts, and wild bird capturing devices.

Upon execution of that warrant evidence was found supporting several charges against Mr. Wright. Several firearms, drugs, drug paraphernalia, deer parts, and a live Raven were seized as a result of the efforts. Other charges include Unlawful Possession of Schedule Drugs, Illegal deer kill charges, and charges related to the captive Raven. According to the Maine Warden Service possible federal charges are pending reference the captive Raven.

Affidavit and Request for this search warrant are on file with the Machias District Court. Mr. Wright remains in custody in the Washington County Jail held without bail at the time of this release pending his appearance before the Machias District court possibly Friday 3-9.


Sheriff Donnie Smith