Wed, 02/26/2014 - 2:45pm

Erica Thoms and Holly S. Edwards

Andrew Kierstead, right, of Tenants Harbor, stands in Knox County Superior Court with his attorney, Steven Peterson, during Kierstead’s first appearance Oct. 1, 2012, on a charge of murdering Richard ‘Rick’ Mills of Cushing Sept. 27, 2012. (Photo by Holly S. Edwards)

ROCKLAND — A Tenants Harbor man, convicted by a Knox Count jury in November 2013 of murdering a Cushing man on Sept. 27, 2012, was sentenced to 45 years in prison Feb. 25, concluding a case that has been working its way through courts in Rockland for 17 months.

Andrew Kierstead, then-40, murdered 48-year-old Richard "Rick" Mills at Mills' home in Cushing over what Kierstead told a 911 operator and investigators was a $250 debt for drugs. Throughout the investigation and his trial, Kierstead blamed Mills for getting him hooked on drugs. He then said Mills kept "feeding him drugs" over the course of up to 15 years, and then withheld another $250 worth of pills because Keirstead was in arrears for a previous $250 worth of drugs.

Kierstead told investigators in 2012 that after the two men argued over the drugs and the debt, he got Mills to go outside and help him with a noise in his truck, under the hood, and Kierstead pulled a 12-gauge shotgun from the front seat and fired it at Mills.

An autopsy revealed that Mills had been struck four times in the front of the body with 12-gauge slugs, and once in the buttocks with birdshot. Kierstead told investigators he then tried to commit suicide by taking an overdose of pills, but woke up, went outside and saw Mills, realized what he had done wasn't "a dream" and called 911.

Kierstead's trial lasted four days, with opening statements made by Assistant District Attorney Leane Zainea and defense attorney Steven Peterson on the afternoon of Nov. 19. The jury was handed the case Nov. 22, and rendered a verdict within three hours.

The following cases were also closed in Knox County Superior Court Feb. 18-25.

Dwayne Lee Ames, 51, of Rockland, assault in Cushing Nov. 25, 2010, 12 months in prison and probation partially revoked.

Ryan Ames, 25, of Waldoboro, unlawful possession of scheduled drug in Thomaston Oct. 24, 2012, two years in jail with all but 10 days suspended, two years of probation, $400 fine and $120 restitution.

Vaughn S. Clark, 32, of Warren, refusing to submit to arrest or detention with physical force in Rockland Nov. 1, 2013, six months in prison; theft by unauthorized taking or transfer in Rockland Nov. 1, 2013, 33 months in jail; burglary in Rockland Nov. 1, 2013, dismissed.

Jeremiah Jenkins, 34, of Rockland, assault in Rockland July 17, 2013, dismissed.

Christopher A. Robbins, 27, of Warren, operating after habitual offender revocation in Warren Dec. 15, 2012, six months in jail and $1,000 fine.

Christopher T. Weller, 27, of Gasper, Ga., assault in Vinalhaven June 7, 2013, $800 fine.

• Tenants Harbor shooter blames murder victim for getting him hooked on drugs

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com