The Morning Sentinel
PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s highest court has rejected an appeal from an accused elementary school hostage-taker who claimed his constitutional rights were violated because a jail didn’t provide him the newspapers he wanted to read or let him watch TV news programs of his choice.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling that dismissed 57-year-old Randall Hofland’s claims against the York County Jail.
Justices said Hofland’s claim fell short because the jail did provide him access to newspapers and TV programming — even if they weren’t exactly what he wanted when he wanted.
Hofland, who is now at the Somerset County Jail, faces kidnapping and other charges for allegedly taking a Stockton Springs fifth-grade class hostage at gunpoint on Oct. 31, 2008. No trial is scheduled.
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