Davis denied new trial in extortion, conspiracy case

A federal judge has denied a request by former Bangor Mayor Thomas F. Davis Jr. for a new trial.

In a briefly worded statement, U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby, who presided at Davis’ conspiracy and extortion trial last month, issued his decision Friday.

“After full consideration, this motion is denied,” wrote the federal judge, who issued the decision from Portland where he has been hearing cases.

Davis, former weatherization supervisor for the Penquis Community Action Program, was found guilty last month of conspiracy to defraud the federal government and of falsifying government statements in connection with the weatherization program. He was found innocent of extortion.

The former mayor faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of $30,000. A pre-sentence report has been completed, and Davis could be sentenced as early as August.

Davis’ attorney, Lewis V. Vafiades of Bangor, made the motion for a new trial about one week after the guilty verdict was returned.

Vafiades said Monday that the request was “a routine motion filed for the protection of our client.”

“It’s a routine motion,” echoed Jay McCloskey, assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted Davis. “There was no reason to expect the court to grant it.”

Davis had been charged with accepting kickbacks from contractor Berek Dore of Princeton and falsifying inspection reports on homes weatherized under the Penquis CAP program. A second defendant, Karl Anderson, an accountant and former clerk for Dore’s contracting business, also was charged with conspiracy. Anderson was found innocent of the conspiracy charge.