For Linda Descoteaux of Saco, the last nine years have been full of calls, letters and promises from Maine courts that go unfulfilled. When a man defrauded her of $4,000 in 2005, the York County District Attorney’s Office sent her a letter saying he’d pay her back part of what he stole by 2009. “He […]
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Posted inLocal & State
Chief judge: Restitution system ‘is imperfect and we know it’
It was a typical Monday morning for Charles LaVerdiere, chief judge for Maine District Courts: He presided at Waterville District Court, facing 125 people who needed to be arraigned between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. One by one, LaVerdiere informed each defendant of the charges for crimes ranging from simple theft to shoplifting, to OUIs, to […]
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Posted inLocal & State
Helping crime victims: Maine’s system for restitution is a failure
The members of American Legion Post56 in York feel that they were abused twice: once by the con man who ripped them off for $50,000 and once by the legal system they say let the con man off easy. He ended up sentenced to five years with all but six months suspended and is being […]
Posted inLocal & State
Veterans’ group victimized by $50K fraud, and then by justice system
For 10 years, members of the York American Legion Post 56 met in the rented basement of a southern Maine retail plaza. They entered at the end of the mall past a video rental store and a five-and-dime joint, recalled the post’s adjutant, Pete Doe. At meetings, they’d chat about dreams for a true home: […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills, River Valley
Grand jury indicts Norway man accused of stealing electronics, dog
PARIS — A grand jury has indicted a Norway man, charging that he broke into a Hebron home while the owners were away and stole electronics and the family’s golden retriever. Timothy Scott Robbins, 27, of 816 Crockett Ridge Road, faces felony burglary and theft charges. According to the indictment, on March 21 Robbins broke […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills, River Valley
Four indicted on charges stemming from meth ring
PARIS — Four Oxford County residents have been indicted on multiple drug-related charges following a police sting that dismantled methamphetamine labs across the county four months ago. Scott Hart, 35, of Albany Township, Joshua Spencer, 28, of West Paris, Sarah Levesque, 38, of Gilead and Macy Blaisdell, 34, of Bethel were indicted by an Oxford County grand […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Report finds fewer resources available for legal aid
AUGUSTA — Just one in every five people who qualifies for legal aid in Maine is able to receive services because of inadequate funding, according to an advocacy group. The Justice Action Group, which promotes access to justice in civil matters, will hold an informational program at the State House from 9 a.m. to 2 […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine’s supreme court withdraws proposal extending 48-hour limit for court appearances
PORTLAND — Maine’s highest court says it will no longer consider a proposal asking to increase from 48 to 72 hours the maximum amount of time somebody can be held in jail before appearing before a judge. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court said Wednesday it has withdrawn the proposal from consideration and canceled a public […]