Former Bristol/South Bristol Transfer Station manager Shawn A. Dinsmore pleaded guilty to felony theft by unauthorized taking, in Lincoln County Superior Court Aug. 9.
Justice Jeffrey Hjelm sentenced Dinsmore to two years with all but 30 days suspended and two years of probation. He must pay $1000 in restitution to the transfer station and a $25 fine to the court by Dec. 14.
According to court documents and officials’ statements, Dinsmore, 42, of Newcastle, bought a $7300 Polaris Ranger 500, a type of all-terrain vehicle, with transfer station funds.
He bought the vehicle for personal use and without authorization. He later sold it and it has not been recovered.
The Bristol/South Bristol Transfer Station board of directors suspended Dinsmore without pay Dec. 12, 2011 as a result of an internal investigation unrelated to the theft. Dinsmore resigned Dec. 28, 2011. The theft was discovered some time later.
It wasn’t immediately clear why Dinsmore would pay only $1000 in restitution. The prosecutor was in court and unavailable for comment.