Maine jury finds school gunman guilty

BELFAST, Maine – A Maine jury has found a 57-year-old man guilty of holding a group of fifth-graders hostage.

Randall Hofland of Searsport was accused of holding 11 children at gunpoint on Oct. 31, 2008.

Hofland showed up at the school after being on the run for eight days after allegedly pointing a gun at a police officer during a routine traffic stop. The hostage situation ended when he was tackled by a state police trooper. No children were hurt.

Hofland was defending himself against 41 criminal charges.

The Bangor Daily News says the jury deliberated for four hours Friday before finding Hofland guilty on 38 charges. The newspaper says another trial will be held to determine if he was insane at the time of the crime.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com