Former state representative Jeffrey Pierce, 56, of Dresden has had three Class E charges of Fraudulently Obtaining or Possessing a Hunting License dismissed by District Attorney Natasha Irving. The charges stemmed from a 35-year-old drug felony in which he sold cocaine to a state trooper. Pierce served 30 days of an eight-month sentence, with the rest suspended. He had also been convicted of another drug crime at age 18.

Gov. Paul LePage pardoned him for the felonies in 2018, shortly before leaving office, after Pierce had lost his District 53 seat to Woolwich Democrat Allison Hepler. However, the Warden Service investigated the possible Class E misdemeanor of hunting after giving false information on his application. The Warden Service referred the three charges.

The DA’s office said the charges were dismissed because Pierce participated in a restorative justice program. He also donated to Maine Rivers the amount he would have expected to pay in fines.