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February 9

Ex-Rep. Burns indicted on theft, forgery, elections counts

By John Richardson jrichardson@mainetoday.com
State House Bureau

AUGUSTA — A York County grand jury has indicted former state Rep. David R. Burns of Alfred for misusing public campaign funds.

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Former Rep. David R. Burns

Burns resigned from his seat last week following an investigation by the attorney general’s office and a decision to seek criminal charges. The grand jury handed up the indictment this afternoon.

The charges include one count of theft, three counts of forgery, one count of misuse of entrusted property, one count of violating the Clean Elections Act and three counts of making false reports under the act.

According to the indictment, Burns diverted more than $1,000 in public campaign funds to pay for personal in expenses and then filed false campaign finance reports. The indictment includes several receipts, including for a $250.72 dinner at Oak Street Bistro in Alfred and $146.41 worth of lumber and supplies at The Home Depot in Biddeford.

The Attorney General's Office began its investigation in December, after the state ethics commission found that Burns violated multiple campaign finance laws while running as a Republican candidate for state representative in 2010.


The commission said Burns transferred public campaign money into his personal bank account, used the money for personal expenses and gave false documents to investigators.

 

"I certainly have never seen anything at this level of severity and number of counts," said ethics commission Chairman Walter McKee on Dec. 1.

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