Lamoine tow-truck driver gets jail time

ELLSWORTH – A judge said Thursday he was prepared to give a Lamoine tow-truck driver a sentence without any jail time – until, that is, the tow-truck driver demonstrated he has an “attitude problem.”

Clifton Bradford, 50, was sentenced Thursday to five days in jail by Hancock County Superior Court Justice William Brodrick for convictions on unrelated charges of attempted theft and reckless conduct.

Brodrick also ordered Bradford to pay fines of $1,500. The judge said he had been prepared to leave Bradford’s punishment at that until Bradford addressed the court.

“I was just going to give you a fine, Mr. Bradford, but your attitude is so bad,” Brodrick said.

Before Brodrick announced the sentence, Bradford told the judge that it has been a “nightmare” to be the defendant in two trials in the past two months.

“It’s a Stephen King movie,” Bradford said.

The defendant took exception to a request made by Hancock County District Attorney Michael Povich at the sentencing that Bradford be placed on probation and not be allowed to possess or use alcohol or firearms.

“That guy right there needs to have a drug test,” Bradford told Brodrick, pointing at Povich.

The judge, who declined to impose probation as part of Bradford’s sentence, asked Bradford if he wanted to apologize to Povich.

“I apologize for saying what I said,” Bradford told the judge. “I should have kept it to myself.”

Bradford said he hasn’t had any problems with vandalism since Oct. 27, 2001, when he discharged a rifle on his property to scare off would-be pumpkin thieves.

“I believe the word is out there,” Bradford told the judge. “If they believe I’m nuts or what have you, it’s working.”

Bradford’s trial in April on charges stemming from the pumpkin incident ended in mistrial, but he later pleaded guilty to reckless conduct and agreed to forfeit the rifle he discharged to the state.

Bradford said he has been the victim of politics and that the incidents that led to his convictions have been blown out of proportion. He also touted his towing ability and the professionalism ratings he has received from towing organizations.

“I open the roadway faster than anybody, whether it’s a Volkswagen or an 18-wheeler,” Bradford said. “I am the best.”

Ellsworth attorney Dan Pileggi represented Bradford during the pumpkin trial.

Bradford represented himself in a separate trial earlier this month in which he was charged with attempted theft for threatening to tow a Surry woman’s $18,000 car from her driveway if she did not pay an outstanding $67 towing bill.

Povich told Brodrick that Bradford had been suspended earlier this year from the Ellsworth rotation list for towing disabled vehicles because he had violated city ordinances that regulate tow-truck drivers. The cumulative effect of Bradford’s recent run-ins with authorities warranted giving Bradford consecutive sentences on the two convictions and probation, Povich said.

“The pattern, your honor, with Mr. Bradford is anger and alcohol,” Povich said. “It shows a pattern of his anti-social behavior.”

Pileggi told the judge the only pattern he could detect was Povich’s excessive sentencing recommendations.

“We’ve heard about towing issues with the city of Ellsworth,” Pileggi said. “We’ve heard about his reputation.”

Neither of these unrelated issues should be considered when sentencing Bradford for his recent criminal convictions, Pileggi said.

After the sentencing, the defense attorney declined additional comment.

Povich said of the judge’s decision that it simply was not what he had wanted.

“I saw it at a different angle than the judge did,” Povich said.

Bradford will start serving the sentence on Tuesday. He will get credit for two days he spent in jail when he was arrested in connection with the Surry incident.