BELFAST — A former attorney was sentenced to spend the next 30 months in prison after being convicted of two counts of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer in Waldo County Superior Court March 4.

In addition to being sentenced to five years in prison, with all but 30 months suspended, William Dawson Jr. was ordered to pay $482,750 restitution. 

Dawson Jr., 62, of Belfast, stood accused of engaging in the long-term deception of two now-deceased elderly clients while he was serving as power of attorney for each. It had been alleged that he defrauded his victims of over $450,000 by "obtaining or exercising unauthorized control” over the property of his victims.

Court documents note the first of the two lengthy deceptions began Feb. 2, 2009, and continued until approximately March 19, 2013. During that time Dawson Jr. defrauded the victim of property and funds with a value in excess of $10,000.

The second client was victimized between July 3, 2012 and March 22, 2013, and the estimated value of misappropriated money and property was also listed in excess of $10,000, according to court documents.

Both victims resided at Harbor Hill Center in Belfast during the time of the thefts.

The amount of restitution to be paid to the family of the first victim is listed as $384,400, while the family of the second victim is to receive restitution of $97,950. According to court documents, restitution will be paid from the proceeds of the sale of Dawson Jr.'s family home.

Dawson Jr. was also convicted of three counts of failure to pay Maine state income tax, for which he was sentenced to 90 days in jail for each charge, and ordered to pay a total of $36,205 restitution. These funds will also be paid from proceeds from the sale of Dawson Jr.'s Belfast residence, according to court documents. Eight additional charges of failure to pay Maine State income tax were dismissed.

Dawson Jr. was additionally indicted for two counts of of misuse of entrusted property against his respective victims, though those charges were dismissed.

He will serve three years of probation following his 2018 release date.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com