ROCKLAND — The following cases were closed in Knox County Unified Court from June 25-29.

James S. Barth Jr., 52, of Hope, domestic violence terrorizing, dismissed; criminal mischief, dismissed; disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures, $250 fine, four days in jail.

Malcolm S. Bedell, 40, of Tenants Harbor, operating under the influence (alcohol), $500 fine; 364 days in jail with all but 21 days suspended, administrative release sentence one year, license suspended 150 days.

Eric S. Benner, 34, of Waldoboro, domestic violence assault, dismissed; unlawful possession of scheduled drug, $400 fine; 180 days in jail with all but 48 hours suspended, probation one year; disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures, 48 hours in jail.

Alyssa Bennett, 23, of Rockland, operating after registration suspended, $150 fine.

Derek M. Bragg, 30, of Waldoboro, operating while license suspended or revoked, $250 fine.

Nicholas Cammerlieri, 19, of Camden, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, $200 fine.

Brenda Carty, 54, of Owls Head, theft by unauthorized taking transfer, 364 days in jail with all but seven days suspended, probation one year. Carty pleaded guilty to felony theft in June 2017 of taking more than $8,000 from the graduation fund for the Class of 2018 at Oceanside High School is now serving seven days in jail.    

She first appeared in Knox County Unified Court June 26, 2017. At the hearing, a deferred disposition agreement was reached between Carty and the District Attorney’s Office. 

The agreement stipulated that if Carty met the terms of the deferred disposition over the next year, the felony theft count would be changed to a Class D misdemeanor theft charge. She would then be sentenced in 2018 to 364 days in jail with all but seven days suspended and serve one year of probation.  

Carty met the terms of the deferred disposition agreement during the past year and was sentenced June 28 to seven days in jail and one year of probation during a hearing in Knox County Unified Court.  

The conditions of the deferred disposition agreement reached in 2017 also included that Carty would pay $548 in restitution, perform 200 hours of community service, not participate in the financial management of any charitable fundraising organization, complete the Restorative Justice Program and pay a monthly $10 administrative fee.  

If Carty was unsuccessful with meeting these conditions during the year, then she would have been subject to open sentencing for felony theft June 28.

According to the police affidavit filed by Rockland Detective Joel Neal, parents of the 2018 class decided to begin raising money for their children in October 2013 to offset costs of graduating class events. The only signature on the account was Carty. 

Class students and parents had participated in numerous fundraising events over the years, including craft fairs, selling Yankee candles and basketball concessions. When parents began to question Carty about the account balance Carty told them there was only $4,800 in the account, police said. 

The parents believed there should have been more than that in the account.  

Subpoenaed bank records showed numerous ATM withdrawals not connected to the Class of 2018 and numerous purchases, said police. 

In July 2016, Neal was first contacted by a parent of a student, who was a member of the 2018 student government for the class, after her daughter had reported to her that when she asked Carty for some of the funds to purchase T-shirts she “got very upset” and said the money was not available. Carty told the student that the money was invested in a certificate of deposit and could not be cashed in until the class graduation.   

According to the bank records a total of $13,114.73 was deposited in the Class of 2018 account since October 2013. There was a total withdrawal of $13,112.13 leaving a balance of $2.60. There was a total of $4,732.92 in what is believed to be legitimate expenditures by Carty in support of the Class of 2018. There was a total of $5,930.50 in expenditures that had nothing to do with the Class of 2018 and another $2,457.71 in questionable expenditures with no receipts. 

Some of the questionable expenditures included ATM cash withdrawals, hotel, car and cell phone expenses and Walmart purchases in Maine and out of state. 

Rebecca Cobb, 70, of Friendship, failure to register vehicle, $100 fine.

Ryan J. Cough, 33, of Bucksport, operating while license suspended or revoked, $500 fine.

Dustin W. Cunningham, 27, of Searsmont, operating under the influence (alcohol), $500 fine, license suspended 150 days.

Brandon A. Demmons, 24, of Warren, operating under the influence (alcohol), $500 fine, 48 hours in jail, license suspended 150 days.

Daren Dyer, 48, of Hope, domestic violence assault, dismissed, disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures, $250 fine.

Garett O. Eisele, 27, of Hope, 27, of Hope, operating under the influence (alcohol), $500 fine, 48 hours in jail.

Shaundrea Fuller, 21, of Buffalo, N,Y., aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, dismissed; unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, $400 fine, six years in prison with all but two years suspended, probation three years.

Raquel Renfro, 18, of New York, N.Y., aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, dismissed; unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, dismissed; unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, $300 fine, six years in jail with all but two years suspended, probation three years; criminal forfeiture of property.

Fuller and Renfro, 18, of Rochester, N.Y. were arrested March 15 by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency along with and Joseph Malburg, 52, of Warren.

Malburg will be sentenced July 12 in Knox County Unified Court.

All three made their initial court appearance in Knox County Unified Court March 16. Judge Paul Mathews set the bail for Fuller and Renfro at $50,000 cash. Malburg’s bail was set at $2,500 cash.

According to the affidavit filed in court by MDEA Supervisory Agent James Pease, for the past three weeks agents conducted an investigation into the distribution of crack in Knox and Lincoln Counties by two New York women. Fuller and Renfro were staying at local motels and residences in the two counties where they would sell crack cocaine to local users.

Agents conducted several undercover purchases of crack cocaine from the two during the investigation.

A search warrant was obtained and on March 15, drug agents from the Mid-Coast District Task Force, assisted by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and State Police, searched the home at 3270 Atlantic Highway in Warren, owned by Malburg. The trio was arrested there without incident, police said.

Renfro denied selling the drugs, Fuller admitted she had been selling crack cocaine and Malburg admitted to allowing the women to stay in his home, according to court documents. Malburg was paid with a few crack rocks and received $300 from the women for staying in his home, according to the affidavit.

Seized from the residence were 50 grams of crack cocaine, 10 grams of cocaine, $1,000 in suspected drug proceeds, along with other evidence of drug trafficking.

The approximate street value of the seized drugs is $9,000.

Also assisting in the investigation were the Rockport and Waldoboro police departments. 

Nickole L. Gamage, 36, of Owls Head, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, $500 fine, restitution $13.84.

Michael Goyette, 40, of Lewiston, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, $400 fine, three years in jail with all but six months suspended, probation three years.

Ericka L. Gray, 31, of Warren, domestic violence assaults, priors, dismissed; criminal trespass, 48 hours in jail; domestic violence assault, 364 days in jail with all but seven days suspended, probation one year.

Howard Griffin, 50, of Rockland, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, $500 fine, restitution $16. 48.

Stuart Hamblen Sr., 46, of Thomaston, operating while license suspended or revoked, $250 fine.

Sergio L. Heese, 31, of Hope, possession of hypodermic apparatuses, dismissed; unlawful possession of scheduled drug, $400 fine.

James R. Hart, 59, of Waterville, failure to register vehicle, $150 fine.

Kyle J. Hoffman, 52, of Old Town, elver fishing by resident one device without license, $2000 fine.

Price Kushner, 47, of South Thomaston, domestic violence assault, dismissed; assault, dismissed; disorderly conduct, offensive words, gestures, $500 fine.

Samuel Lash, 31, of Friendship, vessel operation, $500 fine.

Ryan D. Maloney, 33, of Cushing, hunting without valid license, $100 fine.

Jeff McLean, 58, of Owls Head, keeping unlicensed dog, $50 fine.

Sean P. McMinn, 37, of Rockport, unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs, two counts, dismissed; violating condition of release, 48 hours in jail.

Michael Miller, 54, of Warren, fail to comply with sex offender registration act, second offense

Michael D. Moody, 24, of Camden, criminal mischief, dismissed.

Ronald J. Nadeau, 57, of Vinalhaven, failure to register vehicle, 48 hours in jail; violating condition of release, 48 hours in jail.

Zane D. Nelson, 39, of Rockland, operating while license suspended or revoked, $250 fine.

Danielle Overlock, 26, of Waldoboro, operating under the influence (alcohol), $500 fine, 48 hours in jail, license suspended 150 days.

Joel Perry, 54, of Milbridge, operating under the influence (alcohol), $500 fine, 10 days in jail, license suspended 150 days.

Nickie Ripley, 31, of Belfast, probation violation for original conviction of endangering the welfare of a child, 180 days in jail all suspended, probation one year.

Aron Shields, 28, of Rockport, driving to endanger, dismissed; reckless conduct, $500 fine.

Brian G. Smith, 52, of South Thomaston, failing to make oral or written accident report, $350 fine; failing to notify of motor vehicle accident, $350 fine; operating vehicle without license-conditions/restrictions, $350 fine.

Stanley R. Smith, 64, of Thomason, domestic violence assault, 180 days all suspended, probation one year.

Robyn L. Tarantino, 60, of Lincolnville, failure to register vehicle, $100 fine.

Emily Tripp, 28, of Spruce Head, probation violation for original conviction of domestic violence assault, 364 days in jail with all but 30 days suspended, probation one year.

Kaitlin M. Wallace, 30, of Waldoboro, operating while license suspended or revoked, prior, $500 fine.

MacKenzie CJ Whitehill, 21, of Waldoboro, operating while license suspended or revoked, $750 fine, 48 hours in jail. 

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com