Attorney General William J. Schneider announced today that Brian Bartley, 59, of Kennebunkport, was convicted on all counts in a 20 count indictment that included charges of theft of sales tax, income tax evasion, theft by deception and unemployment fraud. York County Superior Court Justice Arthur Brennan sentenced Bartley, part owner and general manager of the Kennebunkport restaurant Bartley’s Dockside, to 3 years of incarceration with all but 9 months suspended and 3 years of probation. Bartley was ordered to pay back $87,365 in restitution which represents the money stolen, income tax evaded and recent restaurant taxes that he failed to pay since the criminal prosecution began in September 2009.

Bartley pleaded guilty in March of this year following an investigation covering 2003 through 2007. Each year Bartley regularly stole a portion of the sales tax customers paid to the restaurant and used that tax money for personal use.

State Police say a Biddeford man led troopers on a 36 mile chase this afternoon on the Maine Turnpike from New Gloucester to Biddeford.   The chase ended when spike mats deflated the four tires on Peter Hamilton's Toyota and the car was pushed off the road by a State Police cruiser.  The 60 year old Hamilton was taken to Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford for a medical evaluation .  He was also treated for a dog bite from a State Police dog when he resisted arrest.  Hamilton will face a number of charges once he is released from the hospital.  The pursuit started  near the New Gloucester toll booth when a trooper attempted to pull Hamilton over for speeding.