MECHANIC FALLS – The owner of a former Maple Street diner has been indicted on charges that he collected sales tax from customers but failed to turn the money over to the state.

Roscoe A. Grant, 34, of Windham, was charged with theft by misapplication and failure to pay sales tax while operating Roscoe’s Rockin’ Railroad Buffet.

According to the indictment, Roscoe is accused of pocketing more than $10,000 in tax money between December 2007 and February 2009.

The indictment alleges that Grant charged customers sales tax when tallying up their bills but failed to turn it over to Maine Revenue Services.

Most restaurant owners pay their sales tax monthly or on some other schedule throughout the year, said Gregg Bernstein of the Maine Attorney General’s Office.

Grant has since closed the Mechanic Falls restaurant and opened another in Raymond under the same name. He was the manager of the Old Country Buffet at the Maine Mall in Portland.

Roscoe’s Rockin’ Railroad Buffet is now doing business at the former Montebello’s Ristorante on Route 302 in Raymond.

Grant has been summoned to appear in court to answer the charges.