AUGUSTA — Michael D. Klaiber walked into the Pittsfield Rite-Aid at 7:40 p.m. May 3 wearing sunglasses, a baseball hat covered by a hooded sweatshirt, sweatpants and gloves, and he demanded drugs.

He was on probation, subject to 30 months in prison because of an earlier burglary conviction.

On Wednesday, Klaiber, 30, formerly of Augusta, Winslow and Waterville, pleaded guilty in Kennebec County Superior Court to the pharmacy robbery and was ordered to spend the next 36 months in prison plus 27 months from the earlier sentence.

He got five pills, said his defense attorney, Pam Ames.

Klaiber apologized in court for his actions.

“He said he was very, very sorry,” Ames said shortly after the hearing. “He had no gun, no note, no knife; but he recognized (the clerks) were scared.”

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The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Brad Grant, said the threat “was in the way he was dressed and the way he demanded the oxycodone and the way his actions were interpreted by the employees at Rite-Aid.”

At the time of the robbery, Pittsfield police said a clerk put a GPS device in the white plastic bag the robber said to fill with “20s, 30s, and 80s.”

The numbers refer to milligrams of dosage of OxyContin and Percocet, according to Pittsfield police, who were able to track the getaway car as it left the Somerset Avenue store and headed north on Interstate 95.

Justice Donald Marden on Wednesday sentenced Klaiber to eight years in prison, with all but three years suspended, and three years of probation on the robbery charge.

Klaiber had previously spent two years in prison for burglary and criminal mischief.

A number of other people were sentenced Tuesday and Wednesday in separate hearings in Kennebec County Superior Court:

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• Daniel K. Barter, 21, of Boothbay, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs Feb. 12 in Pittston; 364-day jail sentence, all but four months suspended, one-year probation, $160 forfeiture, $400 fine.

• Sarah J. Belanger, 29, of Waterville, operating under the influence June 2 in Winslow; three-year jail sentence, all but 30 days suspended, two years of probation, $1,100 fine, six-year license and registration suspension.

• Joshua L. Belyea, 24, of Brunswick, domestic-violence assault and violating conditions of release Oct. 10 in Augusta, three-year jail sentence, with all but 45 days suspended, two years of probation.

• Tyler Crawford, 18, of China, eight counts of burglary of a motor vehicle and nine counts of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer between June 26 and July 8 in Winslow; 364-day jail sentence, all but 30 days suspended (to be served in the alternative sentencing program), one-year probation, 200 hours of public service, up to $2,279 restitution.

• Daniel Dill, 22, of Gardiner, criminal mischief July 1, 2011, in Augusta, 364-day jail sentence, all suspended, one-year administrative release.

• Tyler H. Greenlaw, 18, of Winslow, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and aggravated criminal mischief July 27 and eluding an officer and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer July 30, all in Winslow; two-year prison sentence, up to $15,000 in restitution.

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• Wendy Hapworth, of Winslow, operating under the influence July 14 in Winslow, $500 fine, 90-day license suspension.

• Khanh Q. Le, 44, of Skowhegan, burglary and criminal attempt Sept. 9 in Waterville; four-month jail sentence.

• Tyler T. Moulton, 31, of South China, unlawful furnishing of scheduled drugs Nov. 16, 2010, in Gardiner; four-year jail sentence, all but 90 days suspended, two years of probation, $400 fine.

• Michelle L. Romagno, 33, of Waterville, operating after habitual offender revocation Aug. 9 in Waterville, 30-day jail sentence, $500 fine.

• Fred F. Taylor III, 43, formerly of Sidney and now of Augusta, assault July 21 and terrorizing and assault July 28, all in Augusta; four-year jail sentence, all but four months suspended, two years of probation, $300 fine, restitution up to $2,500.

• Britany D. Turner, 19, of Coopers Mills, unlawful possession of oxycodone July 6 in China, 48-hour jail sentence (credit for time served), $400 fine.

• Alexandrea R. Wysote, 23, of Farmingdale, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs June 12 in Waterville; $500 fine.

Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com


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