On May 24, Christopher Gove, 23, of Damariscotta, was sentenced to eight years in the Department of Corrections, all but 18 months suspended, for a single charge of Burglary stemming from a June 2015 incident, and 36 other counts of Burglary and Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer, involving thefts from a Newcastle storage unit and homes and summer residences in Damariscotta, Bristol, Bremen, Newcastle, Nobleboro, Jefferson, Alna and Waldoboro. He will also serve a three-year probation.

The Class B Burglaries could have carried a maximum sentence of 10 years each, and each theft charge could have resulted in six-month to five-year sentences each.

Gove reportedly confessed early in the investigation, as did Cody Beal, 24, also of Damariscotta, according to court documents and a press release at the time of the investigation. Beal has burglary and theft convictions in connection with the case.

Gove will serve all the time concurrently, as part of a deferred disposition agreement that also requires that, upon release, he and Beal, 24, pay restitution to the victims of a total of $14,990. If the terms of the agreement are not met, Gove is liable to be sentenced for additional time.

Except for the storage unit, the pair entered through unlocked doors.

Most of the items stolen were coins and jewelry, and most were negotiated at Maine-ly Pawn in Damariscotta.