PORTLAND

High court upholds ruling against former oil dealer

Maine’s Supreme Court unanimously upheld a ruling Tuesday against a former heating oil dealer who was accused of failing to deliver oil on prepaid plans during the winter of 2007-08.

Nicholas Curro and his three companies – Price-Rite Oil, Veilleux Oil & Service and Perron Oil – were to pay $394,000 in restitution to more than 300 customers in an agreement reached last year.

The arrangement approved by York County Superior Court Justice G. Arthur Brennan also included a fine of $250,000, which would be reduced to $25,000 if restitution was made within five years, and a ban on Curro entering into any prepaid oil deals for the next five years.

The businesses appealed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, arguing that the attorney general failed to provide 10-day notice before filing its complaint and that the lower court made a mistake in imposing the civil penalty when Curro didn’t intentionally violate the state’s Unfair Trade Practices law.

The justices found the businesses failed to realize there was an exception to the 10-day notice requirement in their case due to affidavits filled by the attorney general in support of a temporary restraining order it sought. The justices also found there was ample evidence to support the lower court’s findings that Curro acted intentionally.

AUGUSTA

Saltwater fishing changes will soon become law

A bill to streamline Maine’s saltwater fishing registry rules awaits Gov. Paul LePage’s signature.

Sen. David Trahan’s bill, L.D. 210, was among those that passed in the hectic, final days of the legislative session last week. The Waldoboro Republican’s bill updates a law that was passed after extensive debate last year.

Under the 2010 law, Maine residents with freshwater licenses are all set with the federal registry requirement. But the law said Mainers without freshwater licenses, and nonresidents, had to register for a $2 agent fee. Striped-bass fishermen from Maine had to pay $5, and nonresidents had to pay $15.

This year’s legislation removes the striped-bass fees, and reduces the agent fee from $2 to $1. The LePage administration supported the change in the registry law.

Head injuries in youth sports to get legislators’ attention

Lawmakers will take a fresh look at a bill to study youth sports-related head injuries during next year’s session.

Before adjourning last week, the Legislature decided to sideline the bill so its Education Committee can review it next year.

The sponsor, Democratic Rep. Donald Pilon of Saco, said he’s disappointed with the decision.

His bill would reconvene a working group to update Maine’s policy to prevent, diagnose and treat head injuries sustained in school sports programs.

DOVER-FOXCROFT

Man, 22, pleads not guilty in shooting death of brother

A Dover-Foxcroft man who is charged with killing his younger brother in a dispute over damage caused by an all-terrain vehicle has pleaded not guilty.

Steven Mayo, 22, is charged with murder in the death of Ryan Mayo, 20, who was killed May 1 on the road where the brothers lived next door to each other.

Steven Mayo told police that he shot out the tires of his brother’s all-terrain vehicle after the two brothers fought following an argument over damage the ATV caused to his driveway. He said he fired at his brother only after he came outside and fired a shotgun.

Mayo is being held without bail in the Piscataquis County Jail. Murder carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

FREEPORT

Visitor from China charged with unlawful sexual contact

A 61-year-old man from China who was arrested in Freeport last weekend is charged with unlawful sexual contact.

Qun Liu was arrested after he allegedly was seen inappropriately touching a 7-year-old family member on Main Street in Freeport on Saturday. His behavior was reported by separate, independent witnesses and confirmed in interviews with the victim, police said.

Qun Liu is being held on $50,000 bail. Officials with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement were alerted to the case because the man is a foreign national and speaks only Mandarin Chinese.
The man and family members were vacationing in Maine.

GEORGETOWN

Boy, 11, recovering after eye injury from fireworks

Police say an 11-year-old boy is recovering after being hit in the eye with fireworks that were shot off by his father in Georgetown.

Officials told WCSH-TV that the boy and his family were visiting from New Hampshire when they decided to set off fireworks Monday night.

Police say one of the fireworks misfired and exploded, with pieces striking the boy’s eye.

Officials say the boy was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. His identity was not released. The state Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.

BANGOR

Two Maine men charged; 475 pounds of pot seized

Two Maine men who allegedly hired a third man to transport 475 pounds of marijuana from Arizona to Maine in a 31-foot RV are facing federal charges.

Gerald Rich Jr., 47, of Frankfort and Mark Wolosko, 46, of Kennebunkport were freed on personal recognizance after being arrested last week on marijuana distribution charges.

According to police records, the operation was uncovered after a man identified as “C.S.” was stopped for a traffic violation in Missouri while driving an RV owned by Rich from Arizona to Maine. The affidavit said the driver agreed to cooperate with federal drug agents, who arrested Rich and Wolosko after the RV arrived in Maine.

The Bangor Daily News said 475 pounds of marijuana was seized from the vehicle.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Maine farmers to get grant aid after storm damage

U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe say the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a $400,000 emergency grant to 50 Maine potato farmers.

The farmers suffered crop damage during recent storms that in some cases completely washed away topsoil, dramatically reducing yields.

The grants come from the USDA’s Farm Services Agency. The money was provided through the agency’s Emergency Conservation Program.

Potato farming is the backbone of Aroostook County’s economy. The senators say the money will help farmers repair damage to their fields and prevent further damage.