BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) – A Maine man was sentenced to four to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing about $300,000 worth of antiques and artifacts from Portsmouth’s Strawbery Banke Museum two years ago.

Scott Ford, 36, of Sanford, Maine, pleaded guilty to burglary Thursday after a full day of trial testimony in Rockingham County Superior Court. He faces additional sentences for other burglary convictions in New Hampshire and Maine, which will be served consecutively.

Ford stole antique furniture, glassware and porcelain from the museum’s Chase House in broad daylight on March 13, 2003. At the time, museum officials said some of the items were damaged.

The museum consists of restored houses from different historical periods, tradesmen’s shops and historical gardens on several acres across the street from Prescott Park on Portsmouth’s waterfront. The buildings are closed and locked during the winter months, but the museum conducts some tours and anyone can wander around the grounds.

The afternoon of the theft, a museum caretaker called police to report he had seen a strange man loading furniture into a white van. The caretaker confronted Ford, then chased the van and got its license plate number. Police found the van a short time later in a parking lot and traced the vehicle to Ford. Sanford police arrested him later that night.

Ford was already wanted for a Hampton burglary when he was arrested for the Strawbery Banke theft, authorities said. Judge Tina Nadeau said his new sentence would begin when the previous one ends. The earliest Ford will be eligible for parole in New Hampshire is 2010, but then he faces another eight years in prison for convictions in Maine.

Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams said he was disappointed Ford did not get the maximum seven- to 14-year sentence.

“We’re very happy that we were able to secure a conviction and put him behind bars where he belongs,” Reams said. “We felt it should have been more time in the state prison, but ultimately its the judges decision.”

AP-ES-04-09-05 1227EDT

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