Pair sentenced in drug-related murder, robbery

From Staff and News Services

HOULTON, Maine — Two men from North Central Massachusetts were sentenced Wednesday for a drug-related murder and robbery in 2016.

Marcus Asante, 23, of Fitchburg, was sentenced to 35 years for murder and 20 years for robbing an Oakfield, Maine, man on Oct. 16, 2016, according to the Houlton District Court clerk’s office. He will serve those terms concurrently.

Darin Goulding, 29, of Leominster, who pleaded guilty to robbery and testified against Asante, was sentenced to 15 years under a plea deal. All but about 4 1/2 years of that sentence was suspended, the clerk’s office said. Goulding also received four years of probation.

Prosecutors say Asante shot the victim, Douglas Morin, 31, nine times. Morin’s body was found inside his car in Sherman, which is in northern Maine.

Asante, Goulding, and a woman, Tia Leigh Ludwick of Leominster, traveled from Massachusetts for a drug deal, officials said. Ludwick is serving a 17-year sentence for robbery and murder. Last year during the trial, state prosecutors said Ludwick contacted Morin to buy 10 pounds of marijuana.

Goulding testified that he planned to steal the drugs instead of buying them when they met Morin on a rural road. He said Ludwick tried to grab the bag of drugs and Morin tried to take it back.

Morin and Asante pulled out guns, Goulding said, and Asante began firing from the back seat.

Asante testified that he brought $20,000 for the drug deal. He didn’t think the duffel bag Morin brought had 10 pounds of the drug, he told the jury.

Asante said Goulding fatally shot the victim.

The Associated Press and Sentinel & Enterprise reporter Mina Corpuz contributed to this article.