Blue Hill man faces charges in theft

ELLSWORTH – A Blue Hill man who already faces charges in a series of gas thefts dating back to last year was arrested on Monday for allegedly stealing more than $700 from his employer.

Adrian Leach, 20, is suspected of taking the money in cash over a period of two months from Wal-Mart in Ellsworth, according to Ellsworth police. He no longer works there.

Leach previously was issued a summons for theft in March after an ongoing investigation into a series of gas drive-offs reported by the Ellsworth Falls Food Mart.

An employee at the business helped nab Leach, who had taken about $600 in gas dating back to June 2006, based on receipts kept by the food mart.

Even at age 20, Leach has an unfortunate criminal past.

In 2003, as a 16-year-old student at Blue Hill Consolidated School, he was accused of sexually assaulting a classmate with a disability.

As part of a plea agreement, Leach pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of simple assault and was sentenced to two years of probation.

ELLSWORTH – Local police are keeping an eye on a potential scam related to fundraising efforts for the Ellsworth Girls Soccer Club.

The youth sports team has been planning a trip to Europe for months and actually is scheduled to leave next week, according to Ellsworth police.

The group has been conducting fundraisers for the last several weeks, but a teacher and coach at Ellsworth High School told police that there has not been any active solicitation as of three weeks ago.

However, at least two businesses in Ellsworth reported this week that someone called requesting donations to benefit the Ellsworth Girls Soccer Club.

Neither local business gave away any money and instead called the coach to verify. Police are keeping an eye on the case to see if someone is trying to raise additional funding under false pretenses.