ELLSWORTH – A Hampden man charged last summer with breaking into two separate houses in Hancock County will spend nine months in jail.

Nathan Daigle, 20, was sentenced this week in Hancock County Superior Court to five years in prison with all but nine months suspended, followed by three years probation.

Daigle also will have to pay back $1,800 in restitution to the victims.

“In looking at this file, the choice is yours as to which direction you go with your life,” Superior Court Judge Kevin Cuddy said Tuesday before handing down the sentence.

Daigle was implicated in two separate break-ins last summer, one in Trenton on July 26, and the other in Bar Harbor on Aug. 5. In both instances, Daigle took safes containing cash and other valuables.

Detectives investigating the cases eventually linked the two, and Daigle emerged as a suspect. When he was arrested, some of the stolen items were recovered but others were not.

One of the victims spoke in court on Tuesday, telling Daigle that he will never get back some of the items that were in the stolen safe, such as his grandfather’s adoption papers.

The man concluded his comments by telling Daigle to “get a job,” rather than spend his time stealing from others.

Carletta Bassano, deputy district attorney for Hancock County, said Daigle also faces theft charges out of Penobscot County.

The young man could have been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison on each count of burglary.