AUGUSTA — The lure of sales proved too much for a Gray man who violated a condition of a deferred disposition by selling vacuums, and now he will spend the next 18 months in prison.

Nathaniel J. Dupuis, 41, pleaded guilty last August to seven charges of failing to pay $87,481 in sales and withholding taxes while he worked as a vacuum cleaner salesman between February 2006 and June 2008.

He had been charged with two counts of theft by misapplication involving sales tax and withholding tax; three counts of intentional evasion of sales tax; and two counts of failure to collect, account for or pay sales tax while he was alleged to be “an officer, director, member or agent of CNF Enterprises Inc., and/or DNL Distributing, Inc.,” according to an indictment.

Part of his plea agreement in Kennebec County Superior Court banned Dupuis from selling Kirby vacuums and performing any kind of work involving door-to-door sales as well as cold-calling via telephone, Internet or social media during that time.

He also was to pay $15,000 restitution within the first 18 months, plus $1,440 by Sept. 15, 2013, to compensate two customers. If he complied, he would be able to withdraw his guilty pleas to the two felony theft charges leaving only misdemeanors.

The sentence was to be 364 days in jail, with all but five months suspended and two years probation, followed by a second 364-day suspended sentence and another year of probation.

On Tuesday, the state successfully moved to terminate the deferred disposition, and Dupuis was sentenced to four years in prison, with all but 18 months suspended and two years probation.

Conditions of probation approved by Justice Daniel Billings require Dupuis to make monthly payments of $500 toward restitution of $86,476, and say he is “not to engage in the sale of vacuum cleaners, not to engage in door to door sales and not to engage in sales that involve cold calling, including telephone or electronic means.”

A statement from the Maine attorney general’s office said Dupuis “also admitted that while he was awaiting sentencing, he sold Kirby vacuums in violation of a provision under a deferred sentencing agreement and failed to comply with an interim restitution repayment plan.”

Dupuis was represented by attorney Jonathan Handelman.

Five other people were sentenced this week in separate hearings in Kennebec County Superior Court.

• Joshua D. Carey, 40, of Augusta, two counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs April 4 in Augusta; seven days in jail, $800 fine.

• Vanessa I. Cayford, 38, of Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer June 4, 2012 in Oakland; three years in jail, all suspended, two years probation.

• Brock Terrance Harmon, 48, of Winslow, operating under the influence July 6, 2013, in Waterville, and violating conditions of release March 23 in Skowhegan; $700 fine, 90 day license suspension.

• Kevin Johnson, 39, of Augusta, burglary, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and refusing to submit to arrest or detention Oct. 8, 2013, in Augusta; five years in jail, all but one year suspended, two years probation.

• Brooke A. Walker, 23, of Augusta, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer Feb. 17-22 in Topsham and one count of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and violating condition of release Feb. 12-18 in Waterville; two years in jail, all but 120 days suspended, two years probation, $2,525.74 restitution.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams

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