SKOWHEGAN — The following cases were closed March 16-20, 2015, in Skowhegan District Court and Somerset County Superior Court.

Justin B. Adams, 21, Madison, violating protection from abuse order, March 17, 2015, in Madison; 85-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, stayed April 8, 2015.

Justin Barry Adams, 21, Anson, domestic violence assault, prior domestic violence conviction, Aug. 23, 2013, in Madison; 119-day sentence, stayed April 8, 2015, probation partially revoked, probation continued.

Jamieson D. Aloes, 19, Solon, possession of marijuana, 1 1/4 oounces, Jan. 3, 2015, in Madison; $350 fine.

Richard Austin, 30, Norridgewock, violating condition of release, Feb. 20, 2015, in Norridgewock; 30-day sentence in Somerset County Jail. Operating after habitual offender revocation, prior conviction, Feb. 20, 2015, in Norridgewock; $1,000 fine, nine-month sentence in Somerset County Jail.

Cory Alan Avery, 20, Athens, motor vehicle speeding 30-plus mph over speed limit, Nov. 29, 2014, in Madison; dismissed.

Lawrence M. Bagley, 26, Skowhegan, violating condition of release, Sept. 1, 2014, in Skowhegan; 30-day sentence in Somerset County Jail.

Bruce E. Bennett Jr., 33, St. Albans, domestic violence, Jan. 3, 2014, in St. Albans; 355-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, probation revoked. Aggravated cruelty to animals, Jan. 3, 2015, in St. Albans; dismissed. Cruelty to animals, Jan. 3, 2015, in St. Albans; nine-month sentence in Somerset County Jail. Domestic violence assault, prior convictions, Jan 3, 2015, in St. Albans; nine-month sentence in Somerset County Jail. Violating condition of release, Jan. 10, 2015, in Madison; nine-month sentence with Department of Corrections. Violating condition of release, Jan. 10, 2015, in Madison; four-year sentence with Department of Corrections, all but nine months suspended, two years of probation, $276.32 restitution. Violating condition of release, Jan. 10, 2015, in Madison; nine-month sentence with Department of Corrections. Violating condition or release, Jan. 10, 2015, in Madison; dismissed. Violating condition or release, Jan. 10, 2015, in Madison; dismissed. Violating condition or release, Jan. 10, 2015, in Madison; nine-month sentence with Department of Corrections. Violating condition or release, Jan. 10, 2015, in Madison; dismissed. Violating condition or release, Jan. 10, 2015, in Madison; dismissed.

Matthew Thomas Cooley, 30, Anson, reckless violation of protective order, Dec. 4, 2014, in Anson; 45-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, probation partially revoked, probation continued.

Mariah L. Cyr, 20, Oakland, unlawful possession of scheduled drug, Dec. 12, 2014, in Norridgewock; $400 fine, 364 days in Somerset County Jail, all suspended, one-year probation.

Marcia L. Dulac, 37, New Portland, disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures, Feb. 25, 2014, in New Portland, $300 fine.

Kevin Estes, 61, Skowhegan, negotiating a worthless instrument, Oct. 23, 2014, in Skowhegan; seven-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, $86.91 restitution. Violating condition of release, Feb. 9, 2015, in Madison; seven-day sentence in Somerset County Jail.

Paul Francis Fay, 30, Skowhegan, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, March 17, 2015, in Skowhegan; 48-hour sentence in Somerset County Jail.

Christine E. Gettig, 60, Skowhegan, allowing a dog to be at large, Jan. 18, in Skowhegan; $250 fine.

Joseph A. Gordon, 23, Madison, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Nov. 23, 2014, in Madison; 90-day jail sentence in Somerset County Jail, stayed March 30, 2015, $25 restitution.

Stephen B. Hagerty, 54, Fairfield, operating under the influence, Nov. 2, 2014, in Fairfield; $500 fine, 10-day sentence in Kennebec County jail, stayed May 8, 2015, 150-day license suspension.

Anne M. Hicks, 47, Hartland, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, prior convictions, Dec. 18, 2014, in Hartland; three-year sentence with Department of Corrections, all but 15 days suspended, two years of probation.

Aledander C. Jorden, 21, Waterville, trafficking tobacco in adult correctional facility, Nov. 1, 2015, in Madison; 30-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, stayed March 27, 2015. Trafficking in prison contraband, Nov. 1, 2014; guilty.

Dwain H. Libby, 47, Anson, unlawful possession of scheduled drug, Aug. 15, 2014, in Anson; $400 fine, four-month sentence in Somerset County Jail.

Denise Littlefield, 46, Fairfield, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Oct. 12, 2014, in Fairfield, $200 fine, $7.99 restitution.

Neil MacLean, 55, Skowhegan, failure to provide correct name, address, date of birth, Aug. 29, 2014, in Canaan; dismissed.

Randy D. McCandless, 57, Norridgewock, failing to notify of motor vehicle accident, Dec. 12, 2014, in Madison; dismissed. Operating under the influence, Dec., 12, 2014, in Madison; $500 fine, four-day sentence in Kennebec County jail, stayed May 8, 2015, 150-day license suspension.

Jaime McGee, 29, Waterville, disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures, Jan. 14, 2015, in Fairfield; seven-day sentence in Somerset County Jail.

Pamela Miranda, 57, Winslow, operating while license suspended or revoked, Dec. 28, 2014, in Fairfield; dismissed.

Brandon, Moholland, 25, Pittsfield, reckless conduct, Jan. 24, 2015, in Pittsfield; 20-day sentence in Somerset County Jail. Criminal threatening with dangerous weapon, Jan. 24, 2015, in Pittsfield; dismissed. Criminal threatening, Jan. 24, 2015, in Pittsfield; 364-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, all but 20 days suspended, stayed March 20, 2015, one-year administrative release.

Michael C. Morrisette, 56, Moose River, fish violation of number, amount weight or size, Jan. 17, 2015, in Jackman; $120 fine.

Randy W. Rioux, 24, Danielson, Connecticut, operating vehicle without license, March 17, 2015, in Skowhegan; 24-hour sentence in Somerset County Jail.

Seth H. Roundy, 23, Dixmont, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, Jan. 12, 2015, in St. Albans; $750 fine.

Allisha R. Savage, 26, Manchester, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, June 13, 2013, in Skowhegan; 60-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, probation partially revoked, probation continued.

Lisa M. Scott, 34, Anson; terrorizing, Nov. 22, 2014, in Anson; dismissed.

Eddie Sheppard, 42, North Anson, OUI, Feb. 1, 2015, in Madison; $500 fine, 48 hours in Somerset County Jail, stayed April 8, 2015, 150-day license suspension. Violating condition of release, Feb. 8, 2015, in Anson; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail, stayed April 8, 2015.

Sherwood L. Sherburne, 59, Skowhegan, OUI, Jan. 21, 2015, in Skowhegan; $500 fine, 48 hours in Somerset County Jail, stayed April 3, 2015, 150-day license suspension.

Christopher A. Tibbetts, 22, North Anson, burglary, Feb. 10, 2013, in Lexington; 27-month sentence with Department of Corrections, probation partially revoked. Violating condition of release, Nov. 19, 2014, in Madison; 90-day sentence in Somerset County Jail.

Brett Ward, 24, Madison, violating condition of release, March 13, 2015, in Madison; 30-day sentence in Somerset County Jail. Theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, prior convictions, Sept. 23, 2013, in Skowhegan; 24 hours in Somerset County Jail, probation partially revoked, probation continued.

Ronald V. Webster, 32, St. Albans, cultivating marijuana, Dec. 19, 2014, in St. Albans; $400 fine, 30-day sentence Somerst County Jail. Possession of scheduled drug; dismissed.

Darreyl A. Wright, 37, Skowhegan, aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, Dec. 16, 2014, in Skowhegan; dismissed. Unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, Dec. 16, 2014, in Skowhegan; $400 fine, 10-year sentence with Department of Corrections, all but three years suspended, $240 restitution. Unlawful possession of scheduled drug, Dec. 16, 2014, in Skowhegan; $400 fine, 30-month sentence with Department of Corrections.

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency is one of six state-level drug-fighting agencies nationally receiving grants from the COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force.

The Community Oriented Policing Services grant of $389,000 is intended to help Maine law enforcement efforts that target drug trafficking by seizing heroin and prescription opiates and arresting dealers.

“Our project narrative looked at the issue of identifying, investigating and dismantling criminal drug trafficking groups – target those who are bringing in the most volume,” MDEA Director Roy McKinney said.

The money will be used to pay for overtime and for new equipment, such as a $20,000 hand-held narcotics identification device. The devices mean drug agents don’t have to send samples to the state lab to confirm the presence of certain drugs or risk exposing themselves to powerful drugs like fentanyl by doing a chemical field test, he said.

The MDEA did not seek funds for additional agents – a priority of the LePage administration – because the grant guidelines required identifying how the new personnel would be paid for once the two-year grant expired. McKinney said that is problematic for an agency like MDEA, which relies on officers from other departments to work on the task force. If the grant money was used to replace those officers in the local departments from which they come, those departments would have to commit to funding the positions in the future.

Vermont plans to hire five new state troopers to augment its efforts to battle the heroin problem in that state but apparently has outlined how it plans to keep them once the federal funds dry up.

In describing the grant program, the federal task force cited the devastating impact of heroin on public health and safety. It referenced 2011 figures showing 4,400 people died nationally from heroin overdoses.

The number of Mainers seeking treatment for opiate addiction more than tripled between 2010 and 2014, rising from 1,115 individuals to 3,463 last year, according to statistics from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse. Meanwhile, heroin overdose deaths rose from seven in 2009 to 57 in 2014. Maine had 100 heroin or fentanyl overdose deaths in 2014, and 63 through June 30 of this year.

The money is not to be used for prosecution or for treatment, but was awarded to states with high treatment admissions for heroin and other opiates.

Other states receiving awards include Vermont, with $1.4 million, and similar-sized grants in Wisconsin and Michigan. Tennessee’s anti-drug effort received $900,000 and New Jersey’s $103,000.

David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:

dhench@mainetoday.com

Twitter: Mainehenchman

A former Kittery woman was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland to serve a year and a day in prison on two counts of bankruptcy fraud for failing to disclose $70,000 worth of property and trying to conceal another $125,000 last year.

Rana J. Clarizio, 46, who now lives in Oak Brook, Illinois, tried to hide or incorrectly report lavish purchases and gifts, including a Mercedes-Benz sedan, a Rolex watch, jewelry, artwork and resort memberships, when she filed for bankruptcy on March 21, 2014 in Maine, according to a prosecution document.

Clarizio then lied under oath on May 2, 2014, during a meeting with creditors that focused on her 2013 sale of a house in North Hampton, New Hampshire, for $400,000 one year and one day before filing for bankruptcy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Clark said in the document.

“During her testimony and in her accounting, however, the defendant failed to disclose that on November 21, 2013, she had transferred $100,000 of the sale proceeds to a friend in Florida and thereafter spent the money. She also failed to disclose that on January 6, 2014, $25,437 of the sale proceeds held by the friend were used to purchase a 2010 Mercedes C300 as a gift for another friend,” Clark wrote.

Clarizio was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge George Singal to serve three years of supervised release after completion of her 366-day prison term and pay $185,585 in restitution, according to court records.

She pleaded guilty to both counts of bankruptcy fraud on May 10 after waiving her right to have her case presented to a federal grand jury.

The judge allowed Clarizio to remain free on an unsecured $15,000 bond until Oct. 28, when she must report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Scott Dolan can be contacted at 791-6304 or at:

sdolan@pressherald.com

Twitter: scottddolan

A United Parcel Service delivery truck driver from Maine who stole packages of pills intended for patients who are military veterans pleaded guilty Monday to a federal charge of theft from interstate shipments.

Jeffrey P. Wheeler Jr., 31, of Sebago appeared in U.S. District Court in Portland before Judge Jon Levy and entered his plea after waiving his right to have his case presented to a grand jury for indictment.

Levy allowed Wheeler to remain free on a unsecured bond of $10,000 with numerous conditions, including that he must submit to supervision by the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office.

Between Dec. 17, 2013, and Feb. 5, 2014, Wheeler stole eight packages that the Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility in Togus had shipped via UPS to veterans throughout the region. Each of those packages, containing pills with a total value of nearly $1,000, passed through a UPS distribution facility in Massachusetts before arriving at a UPS sorting facility in South Portland, according to a prosecution document filed with the court.

After receiving complaints of a missing package destined for a Portland patient, the UPS worked with federal agents to have dummy packages containing the prescription drug Percocet and acetaminophen set out at the South Portland facility. Wheeler took the staged packages on both Feb. 12 and Feb. 20, 2014, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Lipez wrote in the prosecution document.

“Agents subsequently approached the defendant, who agreed to an interview and (admitted) stealing VA packages containing oxycodone, suboxone and Adderal, which the defendant had used and provided to others since December 2013,” Lipez wrote.

Wheeler’s sentencing date was not immediately available. He faces up to three years in federal prison and a fine of as much as $250,000.

Scott Dolan can be contacted at 791-6304 or at:

sdolan@pressherald.com

Twitter: @scottddolan

A Sanford man who was driving a car bugged as he drove to Massachusetts and back with a supply of cocaine and heroin pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland to possession of both drugs with intent to distribute.

Adam Hill, 34, had a GPS tracking device planted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency on his car on April 10 as he drove back from Lawrence, Massachusetts, and was pulled over by police, according to court records.

Police who searched him discovered about 43 grams of heroin and 20 grams of cocaine, the court records state.

Hill remains held in custody until his sentencing before Judge D. Brock Hornby. His sentencing date was not immediately available. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of as much as $1 million.

Scott Dolan can be contacted at 791-6304 or at:

sdolan@pressherald.com

Twitter: @scottddolan

AUGUSTA — A Pittsfield man who called Waterville “a cultural wasteland” after he was arrested there on suspicion of purse-snatching pleaded guilty Tuesday to theft and drug charges.

Jesse J. Peterson, 28, was ordered to serve a split sentence of an initial 60 days in jail followed by two years of probation. The remainder of the two-year sentence was suspended, and he was fined $400.

At the Capital Judicial Center on Tuesday, Peterson pleaded guilty to theft by unauthorized taking and unlawful possession of cocaine that occurred June 9 in Waterville.

The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Francis Griffin, said Peterson stole the purse of a woman who was shopping at the Paragon Shop on Lower Main Street in Waterville.

As he fled, the woman’s husband chased him and saw the suspect run behind the Morning Sentinel building on Front Street.

Police found him near the Kennebec River, reportedly with half his clothes wet from falling in. As Peterson was put into the police cruiser, he yelled, “Waterville is a cultural wasteland!”

Peterson later gave police the purse — which Griffin said contained $1,000 worth of jewelry — while in the Waterville police station booking room, as well as a packet containing a substance police later identified as cocaine.

A motion filed in the case by defense attorney Thomas J. Nale, who sought a transfer from the jail to an inpatient rehabilitation facility for Peterson, indicates substance abuse was behind the criminal conduct. Nale said Peterson also pleaded guilty to misuse of identification, which occurred May 13 in Waterville.

Two charges of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer from the same day were dismissed. However, he was ordered to pay $1,612.53 in restitution.

Peterson was released from the Kennebec County jail on Tuesday following the hearing because he had been held on the charges.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

Heidi Everson, 42, of Augusta and formerly of Waterville, pleaded guilty Tuesday to operating under the influence of intoxicants, endangering the welfare of a child and assault, all related to a May 30 motor vehicle crash at Oak and Ticonic streets in Waterville.

At a hearing in the Capital Judicial Center, she was ordered to serve a split sentence: an initial 50 days in jail followed by two years of probation. The remainder of the three-year sentence was suspended.

Assistant District Attorney Francis Griffin said rescue personnel at the crash scene indicated that Everson, the driver in the single-car crash, was acting strangely at the scene and that while at Inland Hospital for treatment of her injuries, she struck one of the nurses who was trying to help her.

Griffin also said Everson’s 17-month-old daughter had been strapped into a car seat, but that the seat itself was not strapped in but was “floating” in the car. The child was not injured in the crash, but later was taken into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Investigators later determined that while Everson did not have alcohol in her system, she told police she had taken central nervous system depressants, and those were found in a urine test, Griffin said.

Everson told Justice Robert Mullen on Tuesday that she recognized she has a substance abuse problem and will be working on it. This was her third conviction for operating under the influence. She was ordered to pay $1,400 in fines, but $300 of that was made concurrent at the defense attorney’s request.

Attorney Lisa Whittier said Everson “is indigent and has very limited resources.”

Everson’s license and registration privileges were suspended for six years.

A charge of driving to endanger on the same day was dismissed in exchange for her guilty pleas to the other three charges.

Everson also pleaded guilty to two counts of violating conditions of release from Sept. 4 and 18 in Augusta and received concurrent seven-day jail sentences.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

A Standish woman who concealed her marriage from federal authorities so she could continue collecting nearly $20,000 in Social Security benefits was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland to three years of probation.

Marie Angel Michaud, 43, who collected the benefits under her maiden name of Marie Angel Broad, also was ordered by Judge Jon Levy to pay restitution and fees totaling $20,078.

Michaud began receiving supplemental security income in 2002, for being disabled and poor, and collected the money legally until 2010, when she married Richard Michaud in Massachusetts. She failed to report the marriage to the Social Security Administration, according to a prosecution document filed with the court.

Although Michaud and her husband moved to a cabin in Standish in 2011, she declared in signed federal documents under penalty of perjury that she lived alone, Assistant U.S. Attorney Halsey Frank wrote in the document.

Michaud admitted to federal agents in 2013 that she hid her marriage to avoid losing her Social Security benefits, according to court documents.

She pleaded guilty April 22 to Social Security fraud after waiving her right to have the case against her presented to a federal grand jury.

FARMINGTON — A Newport man was sentenced to serve five years with all but one month of the sentence suspended for stealing 11 guns from a Salem Township home last November, according to court documents.

David A. Ireland, 53, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer. Felony charges of burglary and aggravated furnishing of scheduled drugs were dismissed in an agreement made before sentencing.

According to court documents, Ireland and his 17-year-old son were charged last year in connection with a break-in at a residence in Salem Township and the theft of guns and ammunition. The son pleaded guilty to felony charges of burglary and theft in Juvenile Court this July.

As a part of Ireland’s sentencing, he must serve two years of probation after he is released from jail. Ireland and his son also were ordered to pay $9,210 in restitution to the burglary victim.

Lauren Abbate — 861-9252

labbate@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate

WATERVILLE — The following cases were closed April 20-24, 2015, in Waterville District Court.

Jessica Alley, 37, Winslow, failure to register vehicle, March 5, 2015, in Winslow; $100 fine.

Joanne M. Batista, 36, Waterville, violating protection from abuse order, April 20, 2015, in Waterville; 48 hours in Kennebec County jail.

Laura Mae Beaudoin, 41, Oakland, use of drug paraphernalia, Feb. 14, 2015, in Winslow; $300 fine.

Betty J. Beckim, 87, Farmingdale, operating vehicle without license, March 14, 2015, in Augusta; $150 fine. Operating while license suspended or revoked, March 14, 2015, in Augusta; $250 fine.

Josiah E. Begin, 21, Vassalboro, possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, March 6, 2015, in Winslow; $350 fine.

Thomas W. Bennett, 47, Belgrade Lakes, possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, Dec. 22, 2014, in Belgrade; dismissed. Use of drug paraphernalia, Dec. 22, 2014, in Belgrade; dismissed.

Jenna L. Benson, 31, Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Feb. 1, 2015, in Waterville; $400 fine.

Erin Bickford, 35, Winslow, permitting unlawful use, March 7, 2015, in Winslow; $150 fine.

Scott A. Bickford, 39, Skowhegan, terrorizing, Jan. 29, 2015, in Waterville; six-month sentence in Kennebec County jail. Domestic violence terrorizing, Jan. 29, 2015, in Waterville; dismissed.

Cynthia Blackwood, 56, Waterville, disorderly conduct, offensive words, gesture, July 24, 2014, in Waterville; $150 fine. Assault, July 24, 2014, in Waterville; dismissed.

Zachary W. Bradley, 26, Skowhegan, attaching false plates, March 8, 2015, in Waterville; dismissed. Use of drug paraphernalia, March 8, 2015, in Waterville; $350 fine.

Randy D. Bragg Jr., 32, Unity, possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, Jan. 31, 2015, in Winslow; $350 fine.

Daniel Chasse, 30, Waterville, operating under the influence, Feb. 28, 2015, in Waterville; $500 fine, 150-day license suspension.

Kelly A. Colby, 41, Albion, operating vehicle without license, March 2, 2015, in Waterville; $100 fine.

Samuel J. Collins, 26, operating under the influence, March 14, 2015, in Oakland; $500 fine, 150-day license suspension.

Jason Courtemanche, 42, Clinton, failure to comply with sex offender regulation act, first offense, March 11, 2014, in Clinton; $350 fine.

Deanne M. Cress, 49, Oakland, operating while license suspended or revoked, March 2, 2015, in Oakland, $250 fine.

Kevin B. Crossman, 24, Lewiston, failure to register vehicle, March 8, 2015, in Waterville; $100 fine.

David Dellinger, 30, Vassalboro, possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, Feb. 10, 2015, in Waterville; $350 fine.

Kristopher W. Denis, 18, Benton, failure to provide and display registration, March 7, 2015, in Albion; $100 fine.

Jesse B. Dewey, 19, Sunapee, New Hampshire, minor possessing liquor, March 8, 2015, in Waterville; $200 fine.

Alexis L. Dobos, 21, Oakland, operating while license suspended or revoked, March 2, 2015, in Belgrade; $250 fine. Possessing suspended driver license; dismissed.

Theresa L. Edwards, 29, Norway, OUI, Jan. 16, 2015, in Winslow; $500 fine, 150-day license suspension.

Albert Elliott Jr., 25, Wilton, possessing suspended driver license, March 6, 2015, in Belgrade; dismissed. Operating while license suspended or revoked, March 6, 2015, in Belgrade; $250 fine.

Calvin D. Evasius, 21, Palermo, violating condition of release, Feb. 19, 2015, in Winslow; $200 fine. Possessing suspended driver license, Feb. 19, 2015, in Winslow; dismissed.

Darrell P. Field Jr., 19, China, operating vehicle without license — condition/restricted, Dec. 28, 2014, in Vassalboro; dismissed. OUI, Dec. 28, 2014, in Vassalboro; $500 fine, 96 hours in Kennebec County jail, stayed July 31, 2015, 150-day license suspension. Use of drug paraphernalia, Dec. 28, 2014, in Vassalboro; dismissed.

Dustin J. Foster, 18, Oakland, minor possessing liquor, Jan. 30, 2015, in Oakland; $250 fine.

Kyle French, 51, Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Feb. 9, 2015, in Winslow; $300 fine, $50 restitution.

Darrell A. Gagnon, 41, North Vassalboro, operating unregistered snowmobile, Feb. 7, 2015, in Vassalboro; $100 fine.

Wendell Erwin Gibson, 84, Clinton, failure to stop, remain, render aid, personal injury, March 17, 2015, in Waterville; dismissed.

Kaytlyn T. Grant, 20, Winslow, use of drug paraphernalia, Feb. 26, 2015, in Winslow; $300 fine. Possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, Feb 26, 2015, in Winslow; dismissed.

Shila Hammond, 34, Albion, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, March 8, 2015, in Waterville; $500 fine. OUI, March 8, 2015, in Waterville; $500 fine, 150-day license suspension.

Thomas Hebert, 52, Benton, operating while license suspended or revoked, Jan. 6, 2015, in Clinton; $250 fine.

Brenda L. Hei, 53, Waterville, violating condition of release, April 18, 2015, in Waterville; 48-hour sentence in Kennebec County jail.

Cameron S. Heverling, 49, Waterville, failure to stop, remain, provide information, Jan. 26, 2015, in Waterville; 364-day sentence in Kennebec County jail, all but 10 days suspended, stayed July 31, 2015, one-year license suspension, three-year license suspension. OUI, Jan. 26, 2015, in Waterville; $700 fine, 364-day sentence in Kennebec County jail, all but 10 days suspended, stayed July 31, 2015, one-year probation, one-year license suspension, three-year license suspension. Failing to make oral or written accident report, Jan. 26, 2015, in Waterville; dismissed.

David P. Hopkins, 48, Augusta, operating unregistered snowmobile, Feb. 7, 2015, in Winslow; dismissed.

Joyce Hopkins, 56, Winthrop, failure to register vehicle, March 10, 2015, in Winthrop; $100 fine.

Joseph Johnson, 36, Augusta, disorderly conduct, loud noise, private place, April 19. 2015, in Augusta; five-day sentence in Kennebec County jail.

Matthew D. Kurzhal, 34, Winslow, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, March 7, 2015, in Winslow; $500 fine.

Victoria M. LaFlamme, 21, Stafford Spring, Connecticut, possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, Feb. 26, 2015, in Clinton; $350 fine.

Ashlyn M. LaLiberte, 19, Canaan, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, March 9, 2015, in Waterville; 24 hours in Kennebec County jail.

Todd R. Lambert, 37, Winslow, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, Feb. 20, 2015, in Benton; $500 fine.

Chad Brian Lebrun, 34, Waterville, failure to register vehicle, March 3, 2013, in Waterville; $100 fine.

Daniel W. Lessard, 29, Palermo, use of drug paraphernalia, Feb. 23, 2015, in Winslow; $300 fine.

Margo MacKenzie, 25, Waterville, use of drug paraphernalia, Feb. 28, 2015, in Sidney; dismissed.

Ryan Masse, 36, Waterville, violating snowmobile noise level limits, Feb. 22, 2015, in Oakland, $100 fine.

Ryan K. McGowan, 43, Norridgewock, possessing suspended driver license, Feb. 28, 2015, in Winslow; dismissed. Operating while license suspended or revoked, Feb. 28, 2015, in Winslow; $250 fine.

Joshua W. McMillan, 21, Gardiner, OUI, April 19, 2015, in Gardiner; $500 fine, 48 hours in Kennebec County jail, 150-day license suspension.

Shawn A. Michaud, 38, Fairfield, failure to register vehicle, March 2, 2015, in Oakland; $100 fine.

Anthony M. Miles, 30, Winterport, possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, Feb. 19, 2015, in Winslow; dismissed. Use of drug paraphernalia, Feb. 19, 2015, in Winslow; $300 fine.

Philip B. Munster, 27, Vassalboro, possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, March 5, 2015, in Winslow; $350 fine.

NE Freightways Inc., Auburn, operating without registration/reciprocity, March 11, 2015, in Augusta; $250 fine.

Joseph G. Nadeau, 26, Waterville, violating condition of release, March 14, 2015, in Winslow; seven-day sentence in Kennebec County jail.

Michael D. Nickerson, 29, Fairfield, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, April 23, 2015, in Benton; $500 fine, seven-day sentence Kennebec County jail. Motor vehicle speeding 30-plus mph over speed limit, April 23, 2015, in Benton; 48 hours in Kennebec County jail.

Stephanie L. Peaslee, 35, Augusta, operating while license suspended or revoked, Nov. 26, 2013, in Vassalboro; dismissed. Operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, Nov. 26, 2013, in Vassalboro; $500 fine.

Ryan Pomerleau, 27, Winslow, attaching false plates, Feb. 27, 2015, in Winslow; $150 fine.

Aaron V. Poulin, 39, Albion, operating unregistered snowmobile, March 7, 2015, in Albion; dismissed.

Logan H. Roberts, 20, Strafford, New Hampshire, minor consuming liquor, Feb. 28, 2015, in Waterville; $200 fine.

Jessica Rood, 35, Clinton, theft by deception, Feb. 7, 2015, in Waterville; 180-day sentence in Kennebec County jail, all suspended, one-year administrative release sentence. Theft by deception, March 2, 2015, in Waterville; $500 fine.

Joshua A. Ross, 33, China Village, attaching false plates, Feb. 18, 2015, in Winslow; $150 fine.

Christopher Rush, 42, Waterville, violating condition of release, Jan. 5, 2015, in Waterville; $100 fine.

Christopher B. Sanford, 22, Sidney, operating vehicle without license, March 5, 2015, in Oakland; $150 fine.

Megan J. Settembro, 22, Agawam, Massachusetts, possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, in Clinton; $350 fine.

David P. Snow, 40, Winslow, rule violation, using hand-held phone while driving, March 5, 2015, in Waterville; $250 fine.

Michael Stone, 46, Clinton, operating after habitual offender revocation, Jan. 9, 2015, in Winslow; $500 fine, 30-day sentence in Kennebec County jail.

Christopher Tibbetts, 36, Mount Vernon, operating while license suspended or revoked, Feb. 12, 2015, in Belgrade; $250 fine. Possession of marijuana up to 1 1/4 ounces, Feb. 12, 2015, in Belgrade; dismissed.

Anita May Ward, 39, Winslow, violating condition of release, Dec. 12, 2014, in Winslow; dismissed.

Curtis A. Webber, 61, Sidney, violating condition of release, April 7, 2015, in Waterville; five-day sentence in Kennebec County jail.

Isaac C. Whitney, 34, Fairfield, operating while license suspended or revoked, Feb. 7, 2015, in Winslow; $250 fine.

Charles E. York, 71, Benton, failure to register vehicle, March 10, 2015, in Winslow; $100 fine.

Federal authorities have announced a major roundup of violent criminal gang members in New Haven, Connecticut, who allegedly were trading drugs for guns in Bangor.

Connecticut U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly and other officials said Friday that several gang members and associates have been charged with murder, racketeering, firearms violations, drug trafficking and money laundering.

The crackdown on the New Haven-based Red Side Guerilla (sic) Brims, a sect of the Bloods street gang, was in connection with six murders and four attempted murders, the officials said. The indictments do not allege the shootings were committed with guns from Maine and officials would not comment on whether they believe that to be the case.

As local and federal authorities were investigating gang violence in New Haven, agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency were conducting an investigation into drug trafficking by a group of people from New Haven. The agents shared that information with the Connecticut authorities and the joint investigation led to indictments in Maine and some of the charges announced Friday, said Roy McKinney, director of the MDEA.

“We want to be able to identify the source of the drugs that come into Maine communities and work with those agencies out of state to help dismantle those drug enterprises at the other end,” McKinney said. He said one agent focused on the investigation for more than a year, bringing in additional people when needed.

Shutting down the pipeline is important for Connecticut as well as for responsible gun owners, he said.

“We all want our communities safe,” he said. “Handguns illegally obtained and in the hands of criminals – that’s not good for anyone.”

According to court documents, gang members were shipping crack cocaine and heroin into Maine for sale in Bangor and surrounding communities, federal authorities said in a statement. The gang members also traded drugs for guns, which they brought back to New Haven and distributed to other gang members, the statement said.

In February, a federal grand jury in U.S. District Court in Bangor indicted 10 people in connection with the guns-for-drugs scheme, McKinney said.

Throughout 2012 and into 2013, several so-called straw purchasers bought 15 handguns at Bangor-area pawnshops. The guns were 9 mm, .40- and .45-caliber and .357 Magnum, according to court papers. The people lied on the required forms, failing to disclose they were buying the guns for someone else and that they had addiction and substance abuse issues, McKinney said.

The pawnshops where the guns were purchased are not accused of any wrongdoing, he said.

While Maine has been criticized for being a source of a significant percentage of guns used in crimes in states such as Massachusetts, records kept by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives show that very few guns used in crimes during the past two years were traced back to Maine.

Gun control advocates in Maine have concentrated efforts on requiring background checks for sales that are currently exempt from such checks, namely private sales and gun show sales, and have launched a petition drive to allow voters to decide.

However, the technique allegedly used by the New Haven gang was subject to a background check because the pawnshops are licensed firearms dealers.

Using straw purchasers allows people who would otherwise be unable to purchase a gun because of a disqualifying condition like a felony conviction or involuntary psychiatric commitment to use someone else who has a relatively clean record to obtain them. The technique also means if the guns were recovered in a crime, they would be traced back to the straw purchaser, not the person who took ownership of it immediately afterward.

Emma Connors, director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, said the problem of straw purchasers is not insurmountable.

“Obviously, laws aren’t going to stop every crime from happening,” she said. “Stronger gun laws – making sure people are doing (background checks) thoroughly, having waiting periods – discourage that type of action. Those things are really going to have a chilling effect (on straw purchases), but of course there’s no perfect answer.”

The takedown, called Operation Red Side, has led to federal indictments and several members have pleaded guilty or are expected to, the statement said. The indictments identified the ringleaders of the drugs-for-guns enterprise as Jeffrey Benton, 30, also known as “Tallman” or “Fresh,” and Christian Turner, 29, also known as “P.”

Benton was indicted in Connecticut for conspiracy to murder six people. The Maine indictments say Turner would get guns from drug users to whom he would give cash or drugs. Turner would then bring the guns back to New Haven and give them to Benton.

David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:

dhench@mainetoday.com

Twitter: Mainehenchman

A Houlton man pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge of sending death threats to a member of the European Commission, the governing body of the European Union in Belgium.

Dushko Vanelinov Vulchev, 38, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor to six months in prison, which Judge John Nivison deemed served because Vulchev had remained in custody since his arrest March 29, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Vulchev told an unnamed commissioner from Bulgaria in an email Feb. 5 that he would kill members of the commission if they didn’t carry out his demands that Bulgarians receive jobs in Europe. Vulchev is a native of Bulgaria who is now a U.S. citizen. “I will slit your throats,” Vulchev wrote in one email, and “kill you like chickens,” according to an FBI complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Bangor.

Vulchev used his neighbor’s wireless account to access the Internet and investigators initially focused on the neighbor, but they shifted their attention to Vulchev because the threats were written in Bulgarian, FBI Agent James McCarthy said in an affidavit filed in support of a warrant for Vulchev’s arrest.

Scott Dolan can be contacted at 791-6304 or at:

sdolan@pressherald.com

Twitter: scottddolan

WATERVILLE — The following cases were closed April 27-May 1, 2015, in Waterville District Court.

Roger Baginski, 46, Augusta, violating protection from abuse order, April 27, 2015, in Augusta; 180-day sentence in Kennebec County jail, all but one day suspended, one-year probation.

Richard M. Boucher, 43, Plymouth, Massachusetts, operating under the influence, April 17, 2015, in Winslow; $500 fine, 48 hours in Kennebec County jail, stayed May 14, 2015, 150-day license suspension.

Kevin Byrne, 26, Winslow, OUI, April 17, 2015, in Winslow; $500 fine, 48 hours in Kennebec County jail, stayed May 14, 2015, 150-day license suspension.

Timothy Cason, 57, Bowdoinham, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, March 11, 2015, in Gardiner; dismissed.

Randy N. Carmier, 40, Farmingdale, failure to register vehicle, Feb. 24, 2015, in Augusta; $200 fine. Operating while license suspended or revoked, Feb. 24, 2015, in Augusta; $250 fine.

Chester L. Ficker, 36, Montville, failure to register vehicle, March 4, 2015, in Winslow; $100 fine.

Katherine Fogg, 34, Readfield, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, March 8, 2015, in Augusta; $200 fine.

Ashley H. Gavett, 19, Mount Vernon, minor having liquor on person, March 4, 2015, in Augusta; $200 fine.

John Goards, 30, Fairfield, operating vehicle without license, March 3, 2015, in Augusta; $100 fine.

Samuel Grant, 18, Bath, use of drug paraphernalia, Feb 20, 2015, in Augusta; dismissed. Possession of marijuana, up to 1 1/4 ounces, Feb. 20, 2015, in Augusta; $350 fine.

Sara Dawn Halsey, 26, Winthrop, unlawful possession of scheduled drug, March 31, 2015, in Gardiner; $400 fine, 364-day sentence in Kennebec County jail, all but 29 days suspended, one-year probation. Violating condition of release, March 31, 2015.

Ohisha M. Henderson, 39, Randolph, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, March 8, 2015, in Augusta; $200 fine.

Guido Hernandez, 23, Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, March 8, 2015, in Augusta; $200 fine.

Jesse J. Howard, 24, Augusta, violating condition of release, April 25, 2015, in Augusta; 48 hours in Kennebec County jail.

Dillon Howes, 21, Augusta, keeping unlicensed dog, Oct. 30, 2014, in Augusta; dismissed. Failure to vaccinate dog against rabies, Oct. 30, 2014; in Augusta; dismissed.

Caleb Lawrence, 21, Augusta, attaching false plates, March 4, 2015, in Augusta; $100 fine.

Peter D. McGowan, 51, Augusta, false public alarm or report, April 2, 2014, in Augusta; 15-day sentence in Kennebec County jail.

Peter Michaud, 45, Vassalboro, failure to register vehicle, Feb. 24, 2015, in Augusta; $150 fine.

Michael D. Nickerson, 29, Fairfield, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, April 23, 2015, in Benton; $500 fine, seven-day sentence in Kennebec County jail. Motor vehicle speeding 30-plus mph over speed limit, April 23, 2015, in Benton; 48 hours in Kennebec County jail.

Joshua Ouellette, 21, Gardiner, failing to make oral or written accident report, Feb. 19, 2015, in Gardiner; $300 fine.

Billy Pizarro 35, Augusta, violating condition of release, April 12, 2015, in Waterville; 15-day sentence in Kennebec County jail.

Jeffrey E. Ray, 46, Scarborough, causing death of person while committing traffic infraction, Nov. 21, 2013, in Winthrop; $4,000 fine, $4,000 fine suspended, three-year license suspension. Causing death of person while committing traffic infraction, Nov. 21, 2013, in Winthrop; $4,000 fine, $4,000 fine suspended, three-year license suspension.

Vincent M. Varanelli, 24, Waterville, failure to register vehicle, Sept. 3, 2014, in Waterville; 72 hours in Kennebec County jail. Theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Aug. 19, 2014, in Waterville; 72 hours in Kennebec County jail.

Anita May Ward, 40, Winslow, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Dec. 12, 2014, in Winslow; four-day sentence in Kennebec County jail.

Mary Rideout, 35, Whitefield, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, March 6, 2015, in Augusta; $200 fine.

Robert W. Williams Jr., 30, Augusta, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, Feb. 23, 2015, in Augusta; $700 fine.

Colin Winter, 32, Augusta, criminal mischief, April 29, 2015, in Augusta; 24 hours in Kennebec County jail, $100 restitution.

Alexander L. Wolansky, 20, Sugar Land, Texas, minor consuming liquor, Feb. 12, 2015, in Winslow; $200 fine.

SKOWHEGAN — The following cases were closed March 30-April 3, 2015, in Somerset County Superior Court and Skowhegan District Court.

Justin B. Adams, 21, Madison, operation of defective vehicle, Feb. 20, 2015, in Madison; 30-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, stayed April 8, 2015. Violating protection from abuse order, March 17, 2015, in Madison; 85-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, stayed April 8, 2015. Theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Oct. 1, 2014, in Pierce Ponds Township; 90-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, stayed April 8, 2015. Theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Oct. 1, 2014, in Pierce Ponds Township; 90-day sentence in Somerset County Jail. Theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Oct. 1, 2014, in Pierce Ponds Township; 90-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, stayed April 8, 2015, $623 restitution.

Jody J. Barney, 46, Madison, operating under the influence, Feb. 15, 2015, in Madison; $500 fine, four-day sentence in Kennebec County jail, stayed May 3, 2015, 150-day license suspension.

Kendall A. Brown, 31, Stone Mountain, Georgia, rule violation, operation with false duty, July 11, 2013, in Pittsfield; $750 fine. Rule violation, operating after disqualified, July 11, 2012, in Pittsfield; dismissed.

Francis Browns, 20, Skowhegan, domestic violence assault, Nov. 6, 2014, in Skowhegan; 118-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, probation revoked.

Craig S. Chapman, 43, Skowhegan, OUI, Feb. 24, in Skowhegan; $700 fine, 150-day license suspension. Failure to register vehicle, Feb. 24, 2015, in Fairfield; $150 fine.

Richard A. Clark Sr., 50, Canaan, domestic violence assault, prior convictions, April 3, 2015, in Canaan; dismissed. Domestic violence assault, April 3, 2015, in Canaan; 180-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, all but three days suspended, one-year probation.

Brandon Colson, 18, Madison, operating unregistered snowmobile, Feb. 17, 2015, in Madison; $100 fine. Operating snowmobile on public way, Feb. 17, 2015, in Madison; $150 fine.

Emily Nicole Cookson, 22, Pittsfield, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Feb. 9, 2015, in Palmyra; $400 fine.

Justin L. Cookson, 25, Detroit, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Jan. 14, 2015, in Pittsfield; $500 fine.

Michael Coslett, 31, Pittsfield, allowing dog to be at large, Feb. 22, 2015, in Pittsfield; $150 fine.

Dante Dipietro Jr., Skowhegan, criminal threatening, March 21, 2015, in Skowhegan; $300 fine, 48 hours in Somerset County Jail. Disorderly conduct, loud unreasonable noise, March 21, 2015, in Skowhegan; dismissed. Violating condition of release, April 8, 2015, in Skowhegan; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail.

Jimmy D. Dodge, 53, Canaan, operating while license suspended or revoked, Dec. 18, 2014, in Canaan; $250 fine.

Nicholas Eckert, 24, Skowhegan, domestic violence assault, May 21, 2014, in Skowhegan; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail, probation partially revoked, probation continued.

Vernard E. Elliott, 63, Skowhegan, use of drug paraphernalia, March 1, 2015, in Madison; dismissed. Possession of marijuana, up to 1 1/4 ounces, March 1, 2015, in Madison; dismissed.

Austin L. Ferland, 22, Madison, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Dec. 22, 2014, $200 fine, $20.09 restitution.

Trevor J. Field, 39, Vassalboro, rule violation, using hand-held phone while driving, Feb. 4, 2015, in Skowhegan; $100 fine.

Denis Renee Joseph Fortin, 52, Canaan, violating protection from abuse order, Feb. 10, 2015, in Canaan; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail.

Ryan J. Gamage, 29, Owls Head, assault, Dec. 8, 2014, in Pittsfield; dismissed. Criminal mischief, Dec. 8, 2014, in Pittsfield; $200 fine, $351.98 restitution. Assault, Dec. 8, 2014, in Pittsfield; 180-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, all suspended, one-year administrative release.

Scott A. Cunst, 36, Skowhegan; domestic violence assault, July 14, 2013, in Skowhegan; 24 hours in Somerset County Jail, probation partially revoked, probation continued.

Ronald H Hall Jr., 50, Madison, domestic violence assault, Feb. 23, 2015, in Anson; dismissed. Disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures, Feb. 23, 2015, in Anson; $1,000 fine.

Jennifer D. Henry, 32, Norridgewock, unlawful possession of scheduled drug, Sept. 30, 2013, in Skowhegan; six-month sentence in Somerset County Jail, probation partially revoked.

Isaac J. Keen, 34, Solon, possession of unregistered deer, Nov. 1, 2012, in Solon; $100 fine.

Michael R. Kelly, 26, New Portland, illegal placing of bear bait, Aug. 29, 2014, in New Portland; $100 fine.

Rebecca Lee, 41, Madison, burglary, Oct. 2, 2013, in Smithfield; six-month sentence in Somerset County Jail. Theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Oct. 2, 2013, in Smithfield; six-month sentence in Somerset County Jail, $11,912 restitution.

Jason Libby, 35, Madison, use of drug paraphernalia, Feb. 12, 2015, in Anson; dismissed.

Gilbert S. Mallette, 34, Madison, OUI, Feb. 14, 2015, in Madison; $500 fine, four-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, stayed April 8, 2015, 150-day license suspension.

Stanley M. Martin, 24, Hartland, violating condition of release, April 7, 2015 in Pittsfield; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail. Violating condition of release, April 7, 2015, in Pittsfield; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail.

Casey Edward McDonald, 28, Skowhegan, protection from harassment order violation, Aug. 12, 2014, in Norridgewock; probation partially revoked, probation continued, no sentence imposed.

Erin D. McGlaughlin, 30, Milo, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Feb. 5, 2015, in Palmyra; $15 fine.

Yvonne A. Montpelier, 42, New Portland, OUI, March 24, 2015, in Anson; $500 fine, 150-day license suspension. Refusing to submit to arrest or detention, physical force; dismissed.

Laurie A. Nile, 48, Embden, motor vehicle speeding 30-plus mph over speed limit; $500 fine.

Cameron E. Nurmi, 19, Norrdigewock, violating condition of release, April 4, 2015, in Skowhegan; five-day sentence in Somerset County Jail.

Aaron Ouellette, 21, Skowhegan, violating condition of release, April 4, 2015, in Skowhegan; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail. Operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, April 4, 2015, in Skowhegan; $500 fine, 48 hours in Somerset County Jail. Failure to register vehicle, April 4, 2015, in Skowhegan; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail.

Melissa A. Peloquin, 34, North Anson, violating condition of release, April 3, 2015, in Anson; 10-day sentence in Somerset County Jail.

David W. Potter, 44, Windham, violating snowmobile noise level limits, March 7, 2015, in Moscow; $100 fine.

Matthew Power, 51, North Anson, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, physical force, April 8, 2015, in North Anson; 90-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, all but 48 hours suspended. Disorderly conduct, loud unreasonable noise, April 8, 2015, in North Anson; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail. Criminal mischief, April 8, 2015, in North Anson; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail.

Marcia Provencher, 33, St. Albans, failure to register vehicle within 30 days, Feb. 3, 2015, in St. Albans; $150 fine.

Melinda Lorraine Riggs, 26, Harland, stealing drugs, March 23, 2014, in Cambridge; 21-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, probation partially revoked, probation continued.

Aidee Robles, 23, Pittsfield, failing to notify of motor vehicle accident, Feb. 6, 2015, in Pittsfield; $350 fine.

Christian F. Rowden, 25, Fairfield, disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures, April 25, 2014, in Fairfield; $300 fine, 364-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, all but 10 days suspended, one-year administrative release.

Allisha R. Savage, 26, Manchester, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, June 13, 2013, in Skowhegan; 60-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, probation partially revoked, probation continued. Violating condition of release, April 3, 2015, in Madison; 60-day sentence Somerset County Jail.

Suzanne L. Seames Young, 53, North Anson, negotiating a worthless instrument, Nov. 21, 2014, in North Anson; $200 fine.

Todd Shorey, 51, Newport, rule violation, using hand-held phone while driving, Feb. 4, 2015, in Skowhegan; $100 fine.

Jeffrey R. Smith, 47, Jefferson, New Hampshire, rule violation, operation after disqualified, Jan. 20, 2015, in Pittsfield; $250 fine.

Todd T. Spencer, 25, Hartland, violating condition of release, Feb. 27, 2015, in Palmyra; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail. Criminal trespass, Feb. 27, 2015, in Palmyra; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail.

Randall St. Pierre, 52, Wellington, operating vehicle on snowmobile trail, March 5, 2015; $100 fine.

Linda A. Thompson, 21, Madison, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior conviction, Feb. 21, 2015, in Madison; $500 fine.

Heather Ann Tripodi, 29, Hartland, domestic violence assault, Oct. 23, 2013, in Skowhegan; 120-day sentence in Somerset County Jail, probation partially revoked, probation continued.

Joshua Washburn, 29, Pittsfield, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, Sept. 27, 2014, in Palmyra; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail. Violating condition of release, Sept. 27, 2014, in Palmyra; 48 hours in Somerset County Jail.

Christopher S. Woodward, 30, Embden, operating while license suspended or revoked, Feb. 27, 2015, in Anson; $250 fine.

AUGUSTA — A Litchfield man was convicted Friday of seven criminal charges related to welfare fraud over a five-year period.

Philip Justin Fitzherbert, 30, remains free on $3,500 cash bail following a two-day jury trial held at the Capital Judicial Center. A sentencing hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in the same courthouse.

Fitzherbert was convicted of two counts of theft by deception and five counts of unsworn falsification. A count of attempted theft by deception was dismissed by the state and did not go to the jury for consideration.

According to the indictment, Fitzherbert received more than $10,000 from the government from June 2008 to November 2013 in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, MaineCare and the State Supplement Program by falsely indicating that his only income was from Social Security or other public assistance. The second theft by deception charge says Fitzherbert received $1,000 to $10,000 from the federal Supplemental Security Income program from November 2010 to September 2013 again by falsely indicating his only income was from Social Security or other public assistance.

The other five charges involved unsworn falsification on benefits applications forms filed from August 2011 to June 2013, all in Kennebec County.

The prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Darcy Mitchell, told jurors that Fitzherbert received $22,404.09 from the state Department of Health & Human Services and $5,160 from the Supplemental Security Income program over the five-year period.

She said Fitzherbert failed to report the income he was receiving from an annuity.

During the trial, several Department of Health and Human Service workers testified that notes in their files indicate that in 2004 and 2006 Fitzherbert indicated he lived in a camper on his own land and that he had a bank account at a credit union with $25.

One worker testified that at that time she had 800 to 1,000 clients in her caseload and was unable to verify everything that applicants told her.

Another worker, Diane Bates, testified that Fitzherbert was eligible for Temporary Aid to Needy Families, food stamps and MaineCare because he received Social Security income. She said he came to her office in person on May 7, 2008, saying he needed money for food and medication.

Fitzherbert was defended by attorney Harold Hainke.

Copies of benefits applications submitted to the department indicate that Fitzherbert at times received about $700 to $800 in monthly benefits and spent about $275 to $300 in monthly utility costs. He lists addresses in West Gardiner and Litchfield at various times.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

Gary Mariner, the son of a one-time Cape Elizabeth police chief, used his dead father’s badge and a gun to intimidate a prostitute in Portland last month into giving him free sex, according to police.

Mariner, 57, of Lyman, picked up the 25-year-old prostitute in his car on Portland’s Boynton Street on Sept. 15 and told her, “It’s not (your) lucky day,” as he showed her the Cape Elizabeth police badge, Portland police Detective Maryann Bailey wrote in a police report.

He allegedly told the woman that he had been called back from retirement to work for the Maine State Police as part of a special prostitution unit. He then drove her to the parking lot of Concord bus station at Thompson’s Point, where he pulled a pistol from the door pocket of his Toyota Corolla, rested it on his leg and demanded she perform a sex act on him, Bailey wrote in the report.

Mariner was arrested at his home in Lyman on Thursday on a felony charge of gross sexual assault and a misdemeanor charge of impersonating a public servant. Details of what led to his arrest were not immediately available until Bailey’s affidavit was made public at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Portland on Monday.

Mariner remained in custody at the Cumberland County Jail in Portland on Monday, unable to pay the $100,000 cash bail set by a judge.

Police first learned of the woman’s accusations against Mariner on Sept. 19, when she made a report to a police officer. She described in detail the badge, the gun, Mariner’s car, the cigarettes he smoked and soda he drank in such detail that police were able to match her description to objects they later found at Mariner’s Lyman home, Bailey wrote in the affidavit.

The woman told police that she asked Mariner whether she was under arrest, but that he told her she could “work it off.” After leaving the bus station parking lot, the woman said he drove her to St. John Street and let her out, the affidavit states.

As police investigated the woman’s allegations, they obtained video surveillance camera footage from the bus station, which showed Mariner’s car and license plate number. They contacted the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and learned Mariner had never been a police officer. But the Cape Elizabeth Town Clerk’s Office confirmed that Mariner’s late father, Herbert Mariner, had once been the town’s chief of police.

Police obtained a search warrant on Oct. 1 to search Mariner, his vehicle and his home.

During an interview at his home, Mariner, who is married, allegedly admitted to hiring prostitutes in Biddeford and Portland but denied having a police badge. A detective searched the home, discovering both a police hat badge and police breast badge in a jewelry box, Bailey wrote in the affidavit.

Mariner appeared before Judge Jeffrey Moskowitz at his initial court appearance Friday but was not required to enter a plea because one of the charges is a felony. The next step in the court proceedings is for prosecutors to present the case against him to a grand jury seeking an indictment.

If convicted of the felony, Mariner faces up to 30 years in prison. He has two prior misdemeanor convictions on his record, for assault in 1978 and criminal threatening in 1983.

AUGUSTA — A city woman who removed more than 13 grams of cocaine from a bodily orifice after police obtained a warrant to X-ray her will be able to avoid two felony drug convictions if she doesn’t commit a crime over the next year and a half.

The plea deal for Sarah Lyn Pearl, of Augusta, was approved Tuesday during a hearing at the Capital Judicial Center.

Pearl, 27, who also is recorded as having a Chelsea address, pleaded guilty to class C felony counts of unlawful furnishing of cocaine and trafficking in prison contraband, all of which occurred July 21 in Augusta. She was stopped by a Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office deputy at a Bangor Street convenience store.

Pearl was out on bail after having been indicted in June on a charge of unlawful possession of heroin, which allegedly occurred Dec. 12, 2014, in Augusta.

A police dog trained to identify cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine drugs indicated that Pearl had drugs on her, but she denied it. Once she was at the Kennebec County jail, deputies obtained a warrant to have Pearl undergo an X-ray at MaineGeneral Medical Center, but she admitted having the drugs on her. She turned over more than 13.2 grams of crack cocaine that had been hidden inside her vagina.

She was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and trafficking in prison contraband. Pearl also was charged with violating conditions of release and attaching false license plates.

On Tuesday, all of the other charges, including the indictment, were dismissed in exchange for her pleas.

“She had no criminal history, and she’s been out on a Maine Pretrial Services contract for quite some time,” said Pearl’s defense attorney, Lisa Whittier. “I have full faith she will be able to come back in 18 months and withdraw her plea.”

Conditions of the deferred disposition require Pearl to pay $15 a month supervision fee to the district attorney’s office and to comply with other conditions.

“Sarah Lyn Pearl is a young, nonviolent drug offender addicted to drugs but with no prior criminal drug record,” District Attorney Maeghan Maloney said Tuesday via email. “The deferred (sentence) required her to spend time in jail, enroll in substance abuse evaluation and treatment and provide my office with the reports, (plus) be subject to random search and tests for 18 months.”

Maloney noted that if Pearl successfully stays out of trouble, she’ll be convicted of a class D misdemeanor charge, and if she’s not successful, she will be sentenced on the two felonies.

“It gives her an opportunity to turn her life around but with oversight and extreme consequences if she is not successful,” Maloney said. Pearl already has spent 30 to 45 days in jail on the charges, she said.

In the meantime, Pearl is free on a personal recognizance bond that requires her to comply with the deferral conditions and prohibits her from contact with the two men from New York who were in the vehicle with her July 21 and the two women who apparently were in the vehicle with her in November.

The felony-level drug charges each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

SCARBOROUGH — Maine’s highest court will hear arguments in the appeal of a man who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for pushing his wife off a cliff.

A judge sentenced Charles Black in 2014 after a jury found him guilty of attempted murder. Oral arguments in Black’s appeal are scheduled for Thursday.

Defense attorney Steven Peterson says Black is appealing whether the state’s evidence was sufficient and whether the court was right to deny his request for a venue change.

The jury convicted Black of pushing his then-wife Lisa Zahn off of 800-foot Maiden Cliff in Camden Hills State Park after hitting her in the head in 2011. She survived, and they have since divorced.

The arguments will be heard by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court at Scarborough High School.

A former state legislator was sentenced Wednesday to 13 months in prison and three years of supervised release for aiding and abetting visa and marriage fraud and making false statements.

Adam Mack, 39, of Portland, pleaded guilty in March to immigration fraud for his role in a scheme to allow women from Russia and Ukraine to stay in the U.S. illegally, and arranging a sham green card wedding.

Mack was also sentenced to four months in prison for violating the terms of supervised release imposed on him after a 2013 federal conviction for equity skimming, according to a release by U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II.

According to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Portland, Mack filed paperwork between 2009 and 2011 with the federal government saying a woman from Russia and another from Ukraine worked for him, but they didn’t. The documents were used to obtain visas for the women allowing them to remain and work in this country.

Mack also helped arrange a fake marriage in Cape Elizabeth between one of the women, Mariia Shevchenko, and Christopher Segal, who was paid by Shevchenko. The court papers do not say how much Segal was to receive, though he did receive one installment of $800.

Mack helped the couple prepare for their interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, but during the interview, Segal confessed that the wedding was a sham.

In imposing sentence, Judge D. Brock Hornby said, “You have been cheating the system all along consistently. It’s the deterrence, both general and specific, and just punishment that I think are critical.”

Mack, a Republican who represented Standish from 1998 to 2000, previously was convicted of misusing federal funds in connection with a property management company he owned. He was ordered to serve six months in prison and repay $384,000 in restitution to the federal government. That fine contributed to his filing in December for bankruptcy protection.

SCARBOROUGH — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Thursday heard oral arguments in the appeal of a man convicted of pushing his wife off a cliff in Camden.

Charles Reed Black was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2014 after a jury found him guilty of attempted murder.

The state’s highest court heard the arguments during a session at Scarborough High School. The court held sessions this month at three high schools across the state.

Defense attorney Steven Peterson said Black is appealing whether the state’s evidence was sufficient and whether the court was right to deny his request for a venue change. A judge rejected a request to move the trial because of the amount of attention it had received in the Camden area.

Prosecutors say there was no extensive media coverage that would prejudice a jury before the trial, which took place three years after Black was charged. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Fernald wrote in a court filing that there was more than sufficient evidence to return a guilty verdict.

A jury convicted Black of pushing his wife, Lisa Zahn, off 800-foot Maiden Cliff in Camden Hills State Park after hitting her in the head with a rock in 2011. Both Zahn and Black tumbled down the mountainside and were hospitalized for more than a week. Zahn said she believed he was pursuing her down the mountain, while Black told investigators he had no memory of hitting her or pushing her off the cliff.

Prosecutors said the couple had argued over an affair Black had with an Arizona woman and how he spent a $4 million inheritance from Zahn’s father. Black and Zahn divorced in 2013 after nine years of marriage.

During Thursday’s hearing, Peterson said the evidence presented by the state at trial was insufficient to support a conviction and highlights the lack of pools of blood at the top of the mountain. Zahn had gaping wounds on her head and her brain could be seen, but only a few drops of blood were found where investigators said Black hit his wife in the head three times with a rock.

“It doesn’t pass the straight face test that there wouldn’t be pools of blood,” Peterson said.

But the justices questioned whether the lack of blood disproved the evidence presented that Zahn was struck three times in the head.

“If all of the blood that was pouring out of her head was captured by her clothes, there wouldn’t be much blood on top (of the mountain),” said Justice Ellen Gorman.

Fernald, an assistant district attorney for the Knox County District Attorney’s Office, said the blood was absorbed by Zahn’s long hair and clothing, but also pointed out she was dragged and pushed over the cliff within moments of being struck by the rock.

Much of the appeal hearing focused on Peterson’s assertion that there was prejudice because of the extensive media coverage of the allegations against Black. Peterson said a lower court erred by denying a change of venue request. He said the scene of the alleged assault was a well-known spot and people in the community talked extensively about the case. He also argued that media coverage included information that was later deemed inadmissible at trial.

“This didn’t go away after a year,” he said.

Fernald argued that Black’s defense attorneys did not renew the request for a change of venue and did not object to the jury that was seated. He said jurors were questioned about what they knew about the case and few, if any, had heard much about it. Camden residents were specifically asked if they had heard about the case and most said it was not “the talk of the town,” Fernald said.

Gorman said the issue of venue was more important years ago when local newspapers covered communities extensively. Now, two competing newspapers cover the entire state, she said.

“What difference does venue make now?” she asked.

The court did not rule on the appeal Thursday. While in Scarborough, the justices also heard appeals filed in two other cases and had lunch with students.

Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:

ggraham@pressherald.com

Twitter: @grahamgillian