Millbridge Man Sentenced for Failure to File Maine Income Taxes

December 9, 2011

AUGUSTA ? Attorney General William J. Schneider announced that Aaron Doherty, 51, of Millbridge was convicted following his pleas of guilty to three felony counts of Failure to Make and File Maine Income Tax Returns for tax years 2005 through 2007.

Doherty was previously convicted on October 24, 2005 for the same conduct for tax years 1999 through 2004.

Cumberland County Superior Court Justice Thomas Warren sentenced Doherty to two years with all but five months suspended and two years of probation. Doherty was ordered to repay $31,637 in restitution. This includes restitution from the new convictions, tax money still remaining unpaid from the older convictions, and additional tax money due for years 2008 and 2009.

Doherty is a commercial fisherman who has a long history of failing to file and pay Maine income taxes. After being convicted in 2005, Doherty paid little of the back taxes he owed. The State sought to enforce the restitution order from the 2005 convictions and due to Doherty?s continued lack of cooperation sought and obtained an indictment for the new felony charges.

?All Maine taxpayers bear the responsibility for paying their fair share under state tax laws,? said Attorney General Schneider. ?Individuals cannot repeatedly fail to file and pay income taxes and ignore their obligations to pay back taxes even after they have been convicted of income tax crimes.?

This case was investigated by the Maine Revenue Services? Criminal Investigations Unit. Assistant Attorney General Gregg D. Bernstein handled this matter for Attorney General Schneider?s Criminal Division.