AUGUSTA — A former police dispatcher and AMVETS commander was sentenced to prison today for stealing $8,902 from the Maine Chapter of AMVETS.

Peter R. Bragdon, 33, from Gray, was sentenced to three years with all but 18 months suspended and two years of probation.

Attorney General William J. Schneider announced the sentencing decision by Androscoggin County Superior Court Justice MaryGay Kennedy.

Bragdon, a former dispatcher for the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, was the commander of the Maine AMVETS chapter. He maintained access to the AMVETS bank account after he was forced to resign in 2009 due to alleged poor management and misconduct, according the Schneider’s announcement. Bragdon stole money from the account for nearly two years after his resignation, the attorney general said.

AMVETS is a national veterans and community service organization that provides outreach and support to veterans and their families.

“Stealing from a volunteer-led charitable organization that contributes so much to the local community is intolerable and we are pleased that justice was served in this case,” Schneider said in his written statement.

Bragdon will immediately pay back a portion of the money, although the amount of restitution was not disclosed. Bragdon also is awaiting sentencing in the Kennebec County Superior Court after pleading guilty to unrelated income tax charges of forgery, intentional tax evasion, and attempted theft by deception of an income tax refund. Bragdon previously pled guilty in the Lewiston District Court to the charge of negotiating a worthless instrument and is awaiting sentencing on that charge, as well.

These cases were investigated and prosecuted by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Mechanic Falls Police Department, the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office, and Maine Revenue Services. Assistant Attorney General Gregg D. Bernstein handled the case for Attorney General Schneider’s criminal division.