Former credit manager jailed for theft

CARIBOU – A Fort Fairfield man who worked as the credit manager at Maine Potato Growers Inc. has been ordered to spend 30 days in jail for stealing about $36,000 from the company.

Scott Sirois, 35, appeared in Aroostook County Superior Court late last week and pleaded guilty as the result of a plea bargain.

Sirois was indicted in May for Class B theft from MPG, a farmers cooperative in Presque Isle that deals in farm machinery, fertilizer, animal feed and other products.

The money, taken from 1999 to 2000, was repaid to the cooperative by the defendant, according to Carrie Linthicum, assistant district attorney.

The Class B charge, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail, was reduced to a Class D theft, according to Linthicum.

During last week’s hearing, Sirois was ordered by Justice Paul T. Pierson to serve 30 days of an 11-month jail sentence, serve a year on probation and complete 500 hours of community service. Sirois also was ordered to pay $1,000 to the Aroostook County treasurer for the cost of his jail stay.

The defendant is scheduled to begin serving his jail sentence at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton on July 17, according to court documents.

The following individuals also were sentenced in Superior Court last week:

Donald P. Pryor, 22, Caribou, driving to endanger, $400 fine, 90-day license suspension; operating after license suspension, three days in jail.

Danny Beckwith, 32, Caribou, assault, five days in jail.

Wesley Churchill, 20, Fort Fairfield, assault, 60 days in jail.

Adam M. Hafford, 31, Easton, burglary and theft, four years in jail on each count, served concurrently.

George A. Smith III, 23, Houlton, assault, $250; reckless conduct, $200.

James R. Smith, 30, Presque Isle, revocation of probation, 252 days in jail; burglary and theft, four years on each count, served concurrently; criminal mischief, nine months in jail.

Keith Beauchamp, 26, Caribou, revocation of probation, eight months in jail.