Maine News Updates

SKOWHEGAN - Police on Tuesday arrested the alleged “mastermind” of an armed robbery of a gate attendant last summer at the Skowhegan State Fair.

Michael P. Ramos, 20, of 67 Maple Street, Madison, was taken into custody just before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Madison police station by Skowhegan police Detective Daniel Summers.

Ramos is charged as an adult with Class A armed robbery and could face up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted.

“He was the mastermind behind it all,” Summers said. “He was the one who planned it and was able to get the other two involved. He was the one that was inside the booth at gate No. 4.”

Summers said the woman who was working booth did not know what Ramos allegedly was planning while text-messaging two accomplices outside the fair gate on Russell Road.

“The plan was to hit it on that night because it would have been the busiest night, the night of the (demolition) derby,” Summer said.

The two others involved in the armed robbery already are serving time for their roles in the armed robbery.

Russell D. Berry, 19, of Old Point Avenue, Madison, pleaded guilty as an adult in Superior Court in January to robbery in the same case.

Berry was sentenced to eight years in prison, with all but 18 months suspended.

He also is ordered to serve three years of probation once he is released and to pay back the $1,400 netted in the robbery.

Prosecutors said Berry was the driver in the holdup.

Shane T. Starks, 18, of Perkins Street, Madison, pleaded guilty in juvenile court in February to his role in the armed robbery, Aug. 15, 2008.

Starks was committed to the Mountain View Youth Development Center in Charleston until his 20th birthday.

Prosecutors said he was the gunman in the late-night robbery.