ROCKLAND, Maine — A 40-year-old Searsmont man will serve nine months in jail after admitting he stole goods from his employer and then sold them over the Internet.
Anthony C. Philbrook pleaded guilty Tuesday in Knox County Superior Court to felony theft in an agreement reached between the defense attorney and prosecutor. Justice Daniel Billings sentenced Philbrook to five years in jail with all but nine months suspended. Philbrook also will be on probation for three years.
Philbrook was arrested in October after the investigation uncovered the scheme. He is being ordered to repay more than $18,000 stolen from the company.
According to an affidavit filed by police in October, Philbrook had worked at Union Farm Equipment and his job responsibilities there included inventory control.
His supervisor contacted police when he suspected Philbrook, who had recently left the company, of selling parts from Union Farm Equipment on eBay. Union Farm Equipment found shipments from the company going to people who were not in its customer database, according to the affidavit.
The charge is a felony because of the amount of items alleged to have been stolen.