Christopher S. Gove
A Damariscotta man will serve 18 months in prison and pay almost $15,000 in restitution for his part in a string of burglaries around Lincoln County in the spring of last year.
Christopher S. Gove, 21, of Damariscotta, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of class B burglary, six counts of class C theft by unauthorized taking, one count each of class D criminal trespass and class D theft by unauthorized taking, and 11 counts of class E theft by unauthorized taking – a total of 32 crimes – at the Lincoln County Courthouse on Tuesday, May 24. The state dismissed another five counts of burglary.
Class B and C crimes are felonies; class D and E crimes are misdemeanors.
Gove and Cody L. Beal, 22, of Waldoboro, would allegedly steal cash – often loose change – and jewelry, according to court documents. The pair primarily targeted unlocked homes, as well as one storage unit, according to police.
The spree spanned eight towns – Alna, Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Jefferson, Newcastle, Nobleboro, and South Bristol – and more than a month, from May 12 to June 14, 2015, according to court documents.
Gove was sentenced to eight years in prison with all but 18 months suspended and three years of probation for one of the burglaries. He received lesser sentences for the other convictions and will serve those sentences concurrently.
Gove will also pay $14,990 in restitution and $910 in fines, which must be paid within the first 2 1/2 years of probation, according to court documents.
Gove’s probation conditions prohibit contact with the victims, require him to complete treatment for substance abuse, and require him to submit to random searches and tests for drugs.
Gove and Beal’s arrests on June 12, 2015 were the result of a joint investigation by the Damariscotta Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office at the time of the arrests.
Detective Sgt. Ronald Rollins, Detectives Scott Hayden and Terry Michaud, Sgt. Matt Day, and Deputy Ken Hatch investigated for the sheriff’s office. Sgt. Jason Warlick and Officers Jim Dotson, Erick Halpin, and Kyle Sylvester investigated for Damariscotta.
Damariscotta attorney Edward Dardis represented Gove.
