Former guard to serve 6 months for selling pot

ROCKLAND – A former Maine State Prison guard who pleaded guilty last week to selling marijuana to inmates while he was working at the Thomaston prison was sentenced Wednesday to six months behind bars.

After the sentencing, Douglas Vincent Bickford, 37, of Cushing was taken to Knox County Jail, where he will serve his time, according to a jail sergeant.

In Superior Court, Justice Ellen Gorman sentenced Bickford to 18 months in jail, with all but six months suspended, and 18 months of probation. Conditions of his probation include paying $60 restitution and performing 200 hours of community service within 17 months.

The judge also ordered Bickford to write a “letter of apology to be written while incarcerated” to his former employer, the state Department of Corrections.

In court, Bickford sought a stay of execution so he could continue to work for Tom’s Fence during its busy season, a court clerk confirmed. The judge denied the request and Bickford was taken to Knox County Jail.

On April 16, Bickford pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in prison contraband.

Maine State Prison Warden Jeffrey Merrill said in an interview that he testified that Bickford’s actions gave corrections officers a black eye and were demoralizing to staff. “They are a proud group,” Merrill said.

After an investigation and monitoring of Bickford, he was caught on July 10, 2001, selling marijuana to an inmate, Merrill said. Bickford made $1,000 for that one deal, the warden said.

In April 2002, Bickford was fired after 12 years of service.

According to Merrill, Bickford had profited from wrongdoing done “solely for his own personal gain” and “with total disregard for his fellow workers.” Bickford had no criminal history, Merrill said.

Drugs and safety don’t mix, Merrill said, pointing out the dangers the two can cause, such as increases in assaults and strong-arm maneuvers by inmates.

Merrill said he hopes Bickford’s sentencing will send a strong message that the prison will not employ criminals.

“It’s a very serious thing,” he said, adding that the department needs a level of comfort that its employees are trustworthy.

“We don’t strip-search our employees and we don’t want to,” he said.