JAY -- A power outage that plummeted the entire town into darkness Monday night was caused when a stolen dump truck being driven with the body raised up tore through electrical lines as it left the Verso paper mill, police said.

The driver, James Burnell, 35, also known as James Hodges, of Lewiston and Livermore Falls, has been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Other charges, including aggravated criminal mischief, are pending, Jay Police Chief Larry White said.

Power lines draped the dump truck when police and firefighters arrived at about 8:40 p.m. Burnell was removed and White said he appeared to be incoherent.

"We believe that was an act," White said.

A spokesman at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington confirmed Hodges was a patient and was in stable condition.

Initially, police thought the driver was a mill employee but soon learned he was trespassing and that the truck was stolen from the mill yard.

As the investigation progressed, police also learned a parked pickup truck belonging to a subcontractor, Specialty Minerals, had been taken from the mill yard earlier and found damaged in a wooded area.

"It is believed (Burnell) first took the pickup truck and crashed it and then took the dump truck," White said. "We have no idea what he was trying to do and he is refusing to cooperate," White said.

Burnell will also be charged in that incident as the investigation continues, the chief said. White said the accident left $20,000 in damages to Central Maine Power and other public services and the town was without electrical power for over two hours.

Court records show Burnell's criminal history goes back 10 years, including convictions for assaults, phone harassment, felony forgery, receiving stolen property, sexual abuse of a minor and bail violations.

The Riley Road entrance to the mill where the accident occurred was closed for more than two and a half hours. The Jay Fire Department assisted and the investigation involved officers Russell Adams, Michael Mejia and Sgt. Troy Young.

Both stolen vehicles were impounded and are being examined for evidence by Detective Drew Hufnagel.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com