AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage signed a new pension forfeiture law Friday, saying Maine now has a stronger deterrent against corruption by public officials.

“An Act To Allow Forfeiture of Maine Public Employees Retirement System Benefits for Persons Convicted of Certain Crimes” has been known as the “Violette Bill” because it was introduced in response to the theft of public funds by Paul Violette, former executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority.

The new law will not affect Violette retroactively, but it will apply to future cases. Violette will keep his $5,288.51-per-month state pension, although he has paid $155,000 in restitution that was based on his future retirement income.

Unlike at least 20 other states, Maine did not have a pension forfeiture law for such cases.

The new law gives the courts authority to order the forfeiture of state pension benefits if a public employee or official is convicted of a Class C or greater crime in connection with the job.

The law also says retirement benefits may be tapped to pay court-ordered restitution for monetary losses related to such crimes.

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Rep. Les Fossel, R-Alna, introduced the bill and attended a brief signing ceremony in the governor’s Cabinet Room on Friday.

“Paul (Violette) is my friend,” Fossel said. “The man also did good things.”

Fossel said the law gives discretion to the courts, so that benefits won’t automatically be cut off to spouses or children.

“You want to protect the innocent and hold accountable those who are guilty,” he said.

LePage praised the new law, saying, “I look at it as a very strong deterrent.”

LePage said he does not know Violette, who was sentenced Friday to 3½ years in prison for stealing as much as $230,000 from the turnpike authority for his personal use from 2003 to 2010.

“It was unfortunate what happened to Mr. Violette. Temptation got to him,” LePage said. “I’m told by my attorney it is a fair sentence.”

State House Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 620-7016 or at: jrichardson@mainetoday.com

 


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