UPDATED: Newcastle man to serve two years for OUI crash that killed one, seriously injured two others
Waldo Judicial Center.
Waldo Judicial Center.
BELFAST — A Newcastle man was sentenced to serve two years in prison and pay a total of $8,600 in fines after being sentenced for a July 2024 crash in Searsmont that killed one man, while seriously injuring Pilsbury himself, and two passengers.
Mark Pilsbury, 21, pleaded guilty to the each of the 12 charges against him in Waldo County Unified Court July 13. Pilsbury received a sentence of 12 years in prison with all but two years suspended, and four years of probation, for manslaughter, according to updated court documents.
Pilsbury's remaining charges received the following sentences:
- Operating under the influence resulting in death: 18 months in prison, license suspended for 10 years, and $2,100 fine.
- Two counts of OUI resulting in injury: 18 months in prison, license suspended for six years, and $2,100 fine for each count.
- Four counts of aggravated driving to endanger: 18 months in prison, license suspended for two years, and $575 fine for each count.
- Three counts of reckless conduct: 18 months in prison.
- Operating a vehicle without a license (beyond condition/restriction): six months in jail.
All sentences, including license suspension will run concurrently, according to court documents.
Pilsbury’s probation conditions include not using or possessing alcohol or illegal drugs, submitting to random searches, and completing evaluations, counseling, and treatment.
The incident occurred July 27, when a vehicle being driven by Pilsbury, which held three passengers, crashed. The crash took the life of Dakota Deane, while seriously injuring two other passengers.
Pilsbury, who was also seriously injured in the crash, was indicted on 12 counts related to the crash May 22, 2025.
According to a June 2025 State of Maine Bureau of Highway Safety report:
"Crashes involving impaired driving resulted in 278 fatalities between 2019 and 2023. The majority of these fatalities (82 percent) involved the loss of life for the impaired driver. An additional 11 percent of fatalities involved the impaired drivers’ passengers. This suggests that 92 percent of the risk associated with impaired driving is borne by impaired drivers and their passengers. An additional 8 percent of fatalities involved occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians."
*An earlier version of this article reflected initial court documents released, which have since beeen amended. The current article accurately reflects the amended court information.
