AUGUSTA — Timothy S. Danforth will spend an initial six years behind bars for fatally shooting Michael Reis in June 2016 in a dispute over a $200 marijuana debt.
The sentence handed down to Danforth, 26, formerly of Wilton and now of Jay, was imposed Wednesday at the Capital Judicial Center.
Reis, 24, of New Sharon, had been with a half dozen people on June 1, 2016, who had gone to the Weld Road home of Robert Danforth — Timothy Danforth’s father — regarding a $200 marijuana debt owed by an 18-year-old to Robert Danforth.
The defense said the people had brought a baseball bat, golf clubs, wrenches and brass knuckles with them.
At one point during the hearing Wednesday, Danforth stood at the defense table and spoke directly to the 18 friends and family member of Reis, while also apologizing to his own family members, who were sitting in the courtroom, including his wife.
“First of all I am sincerely sorry for the loss that you guys are feeling,” Danforth said to the Reis family. “I know nothing I say will bring Michael back or take away any of the feelings you have for me, but I hope in some way it will give you some sort of closure.”
He told them, “I honestly wish that night had never happened. I wish I had stayed away from my father.”
Danforth had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge on April 2, in the same courthouse, and attorneys outlined the recommended sentence — 15 years with a cap of six years to be served initially and the remainder during four years of probation.
Superior Court Justice William Stokes said he determined that anything less than the full six years would diminish the gravity of the offense, bringing a sigh of relief from the Reis family. Stokes decided the length of the initial period of incarceration following a hearing Wednesday where he heard arguments from both the prosecution and the defense.
The justice also told Danforth he had a right to appeal the sentence.
Danforth, in dark-rimmed glasses and a gray suit, walked into the courthouse with a number of family and friends. He has been free on bail since December 2016 and was taken into custody immediately following the hearing.
Friends and family of Reis also attended Wednesday’s hearing, and several people addressed the judge, many of them declining to appear on camera.
As they spoke, a number of people cried.
Joe Bissonnette, of New Sharon, read aloud a statement on behalf of himself and his wife, who raised Michael Reis. “Michael was always the protector. He would always insert himself in a situation to save his friends,” Bissonette said. “I know he would do it again in an instant; Michael was wired that way.”
He asked that Danforth serve the full six years in prison.
“Michael was anything but not an attacker,” said his Michael Reis’s twin brother, Jonathan Reis. “If you think for a minute that this man was acting in self-defense, well then you don’t know Michael Reis. This man acted in a negligent and reckless manner. If it can happen over something as petty a small bag of weed, then it can happen again.”
Danforth had initially been charged with murder, and a trial in Franklin County ended with a mistrial after jurors were deadlocked 11-2.
The case was moved to Kennebec County for a retrial; however, Danforth opted to plead to the lesser charge of manslaughter with the agreed-upon sentencing recommendation. The maximum penalty for manslaughter is 30 years in prison.
“It’s tragic in so many ways,” said Stokes. He said he recognized that Danforth “made some very bad choices but wasn’t the prime mover of this series of events.”
Stokes said Reis – following his nature — went to check on a friend.
Stokes also reminded those in the courtroom that the full sentence is 15 years, and he noted that the families of both men were victims in this case.
At the trial, Danforth’s attorneys argued that the shooting was in self-defense, defense of his property and defense of others.
In a motion filed with the court, defense attorney Jeffrey Wilson wrote that Reis had “rushed from the blind side of the trailer and attacked the Danforths as they stood on their front porch. Mr. Reis did not stop his attack even after Mr. Danforth tried to stop Mr. Reis with shotgun shots to Mr. Reis’ foot and knee. The only thing that stopped Mr. Reis was a shot to the shoulder. Mr. Reis died from loss of blood on the way to the hospital.”
Danforth did not testify at his trial, and did not address the judge at the plea hearing except to answer questions about whether the plea was voluntary and in his best interest.
At the sentencing hearing, Wilson noted that Danforth had very little criminal record and that he was influenced by his father, who was “in and out of mental institutions.”
Wilson suggested an initial period of three years in prison rather than the full six years sought by the state.
At the plea hearing, the prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Robert “Bud” Ellis, outlined the state’s case against Timothy Danforth, saying a gun-toting Timothy Danforth told Trevon Goodwin a day previously that he wanted beat up Zachary Uhlman, who apparently owed the drug debt.
Ellis said there were a number of threatening comments made in an ongoing battle of text messages between Robert Danforth and supporters of Uhlman.
Ellis said Timothy Danforth was aware of the dispute and that various weapons were placed around the Danforth home showing preparation.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story