AUGUSTA — A 26-year-old man who admitted committing 40 burglaries and 53 other theft-related charges in Kennebec County was sentenced Friday and ordered to pay more than $98,000 in restitution.

John W. Grotton, of Augusta, had pleaded guilty in Kennebec County Superior Court to all the charges on June 18, and the hearing was postponed to give prosecutors time to talk to the victims and calculate restitution.

Grotton was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with all but five years suspended, and eight years of probation.

Grotton apologized in court for his actions, but none of the victims addressed the judge on Friday.

Grotton burglarized homes in 15 municipalities in central Maine, from Pittston through Benton, between Sept. 1 and Dec. 23.

He stole electronics, jewelry, firearms, name-brand watches, glasses, narcotics, jewelry, tools, silverware, a compound bow, a couple of Samurai swords and a tobacco grinder, according to the court documents.

Grotton even committed burglaries while he was out on bail for the earlier ones.

• In a separate case in Kennebec County Superior Court, a jury on Thursday convicted Eric J. Lane, 27, of Livermore Falls, of criminal operating under the influence. The verdict followed a one-day trial.

Lane was sentenced to 48 hours in jail, fined $500, and his driver’s license was suspended for 90 days.


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