The former owner of the funeral home in Maine is guilty of being stolen by customers

Bangor, Maine (Wabi) – A former burial entrepreneur who was accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the customers, and all the accusations against him are guilty on Wednesday.

Harold “Chip” Lamson, 54, was charged with 16 cases of crimes and 35 offenses.

According to the prosecutors against Lamson, who previously owned Lamson Funeral Home in Lincoln, East Millinocket, Millinocket and Danforth, theft of corpse trust, defects with funeral services and not with families.

On Wednesday, a judge in Bangor Lamson sentenced them to five years, all exposed to one.

Lamson was also instructed to repay 49 victims of more than 63,000 US dollars.

Lamson was arrested in May last year and charged with two cases of crimes.

In June, the Board of Funeral Services suspended its license after violating the conditions of his approval agreement.

Lamson addressed the court on Wednesday, took responsibility and apologized to the victims. He intends to repay them all.

Both the state and his lawyer agree that Lamson regret his actions.

“For many people it was emotionally a very difficult case, but I felt that the victims were really heard, and we wanted to make it the focus of it,” said Lamson’s lawyer Christopher Largay. “The punishment fits the crime. It is reasonable. He took responsibility from the start when these things started and we are all pleased. I think victims, law enforcement and the defense to have it behind us.”

“There are certain cases that he could have potentially contested, and he did not do so. He accepted what was recommended and accepted the reimbursement quantities. So we have the feeling that he recognizes the wrong of his actions and takes steps to correct this,” said Christopher Smith, deputy prosecutor.

Lamson will immediately start his one -year prison sentence with the department for corrections.

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