ALFRED, Maine — A former minister of a Limerick church was sentenced in York County Superior Court on Friday to eight years in prison with all but three suspended for bilking MaineCare out of more than $400,000.
Ronald Petersen, 57, of Bridgton also was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay restitution of $403,000, Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin, who prosecuted the case, said Saturday in an email.
Robbin said Petersen has paid nothing toward restitution.
Petersen was ordered to begin serving his sentence March 2.
A jury in November found Petersen guilty of falsely billing MaineCare for counseling sessions at the Hope Recovery Center, which was affiliated with and located near the Faith Christian Center in Limerick, Robbins said in June 2013, when Petersen was indicted by the York County grand jury on one count of theft by unauthorized taking of more than $10,000.
Petersen was an associate pastor at the church, according to a previously published report. He provided minimal substance abuse treatment between Sept. 1, 2010, and Jan. 30, 2012, at the center but billed MaineCare as if the facility were flourishing.
He faced up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.