Body of missing man found in Acadia National Park
BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — Law enforcement officials say the body of a man who went missing this week has been found in Acadia National Park.
A Park Service spokeswoman said the body of Adam “A.J.” Emmett was found Thursday afternoon between Sand Beach and Thunder Hole.
Emmett was last seen on Monday morning near the Schoodic Head Overlook, and the search for him began on Wednesday in the park. Park rangers were assisted by the Maine Warden Service, Marine Patrol, Maine Association for Search and Rescue and Coast Guard.
Officials say his body has been transferred to the state medical examiner’s office, which will determine the cause of death.
Home improvement contractor charged with manslaughter
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A home improvement company has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a worker who fell off a roof in December in Portland, Maine.
Saco-based contractor, Shawn D. Purvis, faces one count of workplace manslaughter in the death of 30-year-old Alan Loignon, his half brother.
Purvis tells the Portland Press Herald that he provides federally approved safety gear, but cannot force his roofers to use it because they’re self-employed subcontractors, not employees.
Purvis said he was already distraught over the death of his brother on Dec. 13. Portland police say he fell from a third-story roof.
No court date has been set. If convicted, the manslaughter charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Maine drug counselor pleads to marijuana conspiracy charges
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine woman who worked as a certified drug counselor has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture more than 50 marijuana plants.
The Sun Journal reports that 41-year-old Stephanie Beck, of Lewiston, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Monday.
Prosecutors say Beck provided patient names to a nurse practitioner, who then created fraudulent medical marijuana certifications under the guise of Maine’s medical marijuana program.
Beck was charged in connection with a federal raid over a year ago that had led to the indictment of more than a dozen people.
Court documents say a growing drug trafficking organization had been using the state’s medical marijuana program to distribute marijuana.
Marijuana and derivatives were sold to buyers who were not participants in the program, including out-of-state customers.
2 arrested for illegally possessing baby eels in Maine
PERRY, Maine (AP) — Authorities in Maine say two people have been arrested and charged with illegally possessing baby eels after officials found them taking the fish from a stream.
Maine has a fishery for baby eels, which are called elvers and are valuable as seed stock for aquaculture companies. The fishery is tightly regulated and requires a license to participate in.
The Bangor Daily News reports two people from Washington County were arrested last week for poaching the elvers from a stream in Cumberland. A spokesman for the Maine Marine Patrol says 25-year-old Saucony Apt and 26-year-old Tabitha Carroll of Perry were charged with misdemeanor possession of elvers without a license.
It was unclear if the pair is represented by an attorney. Elvers are often worth more than $2,000 per pound to fishermen.
Maine Legislature honors trooper killed helping driver
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Legislature is honoring a Maine State Police detective who was killed assisting a driver.
Thirty-one-year-old Det. Ben Campbell was fatally injured on April 3 when a tire dislodged from a logging truck and struck him while he was outside his vehicle alongside Interstate 95. Democratic Sen. Jim Dill of Old Town issued an official legislative sentiment in honor of Campbell on Thursday.
Dill said Campbell “died doing what he did best in life: helping others.” Legislative sentiments are used by the Legislature to honor people and organizations. The entire Legislature co-sponsored the sentiment.
A funeral for Campbell was held on Monday at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland and drew more than 3,000 people, including law enforcement personnel from across the U.S. and Canada.
Maine gov expected to sign gender pay gap fix
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s governor plans to sign legislation aimed at remedying a gender pay gap in the state.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is scheduled to sign the legislation Friday afternoon. The proposal discourages employers from basing wages on an employee’s salary history.
Lawmakers approved the bill on April 2, which was the symbolic National Equal Pay Day. Mills is the first female governor in Maine history.
Democratic Sen. Cathy Breen of Falmouth was the lead sponsor of the bill. The National Partnership for Women & Families has estimated that female full-time workers in Maine were paid 82 cents on the dollar compared to men.
There’s also a proposal to amend the Maine Constitution to outlaw discrimination on the basis of gender. It’s advancing in the Legislature.
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