ROCKLAND — A third man has been arrested in connection with the intentional sinking of a lobster boat Sept. 1 in Tenants Harbor. 

Alan Norwood, 47, of Tenants Harbor, was arrested Sept. 27 by the Maine Marine Patrol and charged with aggravated criminal mischief.

Norwood was taken to Knox County Jail and released on $250 cash bail.

Aggravated criminal mischief carries a potential punishment of up to five years in prison and fines. Norwood could also be ordered to pay restitution, according to the Marine Patrol.

Vincent Hilt, 22, of Vinalhaven, and Devlin Meklin, 20, of Warren, were arrested earlier this month by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and charged with felony criminal mischief and felony theft. Hilt has been released on bail and Meklin remains in jail as of Sept. 30.

According to the affidavit filed by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, a 36-foot lobster boat, Oracle, owned by Joshua Hupper, sank in the early morning hours of Sept. 1 while it was moored in Tenants Harbor. The estimated damage to the boat is $50,000, which includes the motor gear, wiring and all of the on board electronic equipment.

Norwood has been under investigation, suspected of arranging to have the boat sunk. Evidence points to a dispute between Norwood, a licensed lobsterman, and Hupper, as a possible motive, said the Marine Patrol, in a news release.

The Marine Patrol obtained a search warrant to examine Norwood’s cell phone records to confirm his involvement in the boat sinking, according to the court documents.

Norwood told the Marine Patrol that he did not pay anyone to sink Hupper’s boat.

Hilt and Meklin were identified by two witnesses they encountered on Mouse Island, located less than 200 yards from where Hupper’s boat was intentionally sunk. They had returned there later in the morning on Sept. 1 to retrieve the skiff they had stolen for transportation to the lobster boat, according to the court documents.

The witnesses identified Hilt and Meklin, in a photo lineup provided by police, as the two men they saw on Mouse Island.

Police located Hilt at his parents’ home in St. George. He admitted to police that he was approached by another lobsterman and was offered $500 to sink Hupper’s boat. He said the lobsterman had a dispute with Hupper about traps.

According to the affidavit, Hilt said that he contacted Meklin and they stole a skiff from a float at Wildcat Lobster in Tenants Harbor and motored out to the lobster boat, got on board, removed the engine cover box and cut the intake lines.

Meklin told police that he heard the water rushing in the boat.

After they left the lobster boat, they headed toward Mouse Island, where they grounded the skiff and left it. Hilt told police that they walked back to Meklin’s parked vehicle and left the area, according to the court documents.

When the men returned to Mouse Island to tow the stolen skiff out of the harbor, they removed the outboard motor and threw it overboard and cut it loose. The motor in the skiff they were operating failed so a passing fisherman towed them back to shore before they were apprehended by police.

The investigating officers for the case are Deputy John Hansen of the Knox County Sherriff’s Office and Brandon Bezio of the Maine Marine Patrol. 

Hilt and Meklin will both appear again in Knox County Unified Court Dec. 1 for a dispositional conference.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com