Jason Hunter, 31, of Portland, pleaded guilty to the Sept. 9, 2014 theft of a pickup truck in Lincoln County Superior Court Friday, March 27. Hunter was apprehended and the stolen vehicle recovered in Newcastle.
Hunter was sentenced to four years with all but nine months suspended and two years of probation for a class C count of theft by unauthorized taking, a felony. He has to pay $2,108 in restitution to the truck’s owner and complete substance abuse counseling.
Hunter also pleaded guilty to class D unauthorized use of property, class E operating after suspension, and class E violation of condition of release, all misdemeanors. He will serve concurrent sentences of six months for the class D crime and 30 days each for the class E crimes, and must pay a $250 fine for operating after suspension.
Hunter stole the maroon pickup truck from the parking lot of the Scarborough Wal-Mart Sept. 9, 2014.
According to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Collamore’s report, Hunter was driving a maroon pickup truck and failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Main Street and River Road in Newcastle on the same day.
Collamore said Hunter pulled out in front of a car directly in front of his cruiser, causing both vehicles to brake hard to avoid a collision.
Collamore pulled Hunter over. Hunter was operating under a suspended license and subject to bail conditions. Collamore eventually located the truck’s owner.
