ORONO — An alleged armed robber, and his accomplice, were chased from the scene at Orchard Trails, a student housing complex on Park Street in Orono, when one of the intended victims was able to access a shotgun, point it at him and scare him off.

Orono Police Chief Josh Ewing said that Michael P. Lynch, 21, of Orono, is believed to have been the man who reportedly entered an apartment wearing a mask and dark clothing, while brandishing a pistol and demanding cash. Ewing said the crime was reported at 6:39 p.m. on Jan. 8.

He said that Lynch arrived at the residence with Clark N. Thomas, 20, of Rockport, who waited outside while Lynch went inside.

“The masked man held a resident at gunpoint and demanded cash,” said Ewing. He said that while this was happening, one of the victims retrieved a rifle from his bedroom and pointed it at the man later identified as Lynch. The victim demanded the masked man leave the apartment, said Ewing.

Ewing said that Lynch fled outside and took off on foot with Thomas, and that investigators were able to follow footprints left behind in the snow.

Lynch made off with a small amount of cash, said Ewing, and a K9 team from the Bangor Police Department was brought in to help track the suspects.

Both men were eventually located around 10:30 p.m., in another building in the apartment complex. They were arrested and charged with felony robbery, a class A crime that carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison.

Ewing said that a female, Katelyn E. Heiman, 20, who lives in student apartments in Orono but also lists an address in Arundel, was also questioned and ultimately charged for her role in the crime.

“Her involvement was such that we charged her with felony hindering apprehension or prosecution, a class B crime,” said Ewing. That charge, if convicted, carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

The three were taken to Penobscot County Jail in Bangor Sunday night. In court on Monday, bail was set at $20,000 for Lynch and Thomas, and both remain in jail as of Tuesday, according to a jail official. Heiman was released on $1,000 cash bail on Monday following her appearance in court.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6655.