BANGOR — A Bangor man who stole more than $43,000 worth of copper from substations belonging to electric utility Emera Maine has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Michael Weston also got three years of probation and was ordered to pay full restitution at sentencing Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor.

WABI-TV reports that the 37-year-old Weston pleaded guilty last fall to 19 break-ins between November of 2010 and July of 2011 while the company was still called Bangor Hydro Electric.

Authorities say he took more than 1,600 pounds of copper from substations in Milo, Orrington, Brooksville, Derby and Enfield. Prosecutors say one theft caused a power outage.

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