A Gardiner man received his second eight-year sentence for drug trafficking during a hearing this week at the Capital Judicial Center.
Russell W. Truman, 48, pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated trafficking in cocaine base that occurred Sept. 24, 2015. He was ordered to serve an initial four years in prison and then be placed on probation for three years, with the additional four years of incarceration suspended.
He also was fined $400 fine and ordered to pay $120 restitution.
A second count of aggravated trafficking in cocaine base, allegedly occurring Oct. 5, 2015, also in Gardiner, was dismissed in exchange for the plea.
An affidavit by Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Brian Wastella said a confidential informant bought 0.77 grams of crack cocaine from Truman on Sept. 24, 2015 at his Highland Avenue residence on.
In February 2009, Truman, then of Farmingdale, was sentenced to eight years in prison, ordered to serve the first two years and then be placed on probation for three years, with the additional six years suspended. That offense occurred Dec. 5, 2008, in Farmingdale. He also was fined $400.
In the latter case, published reports say Truman came home as police were conducting a search warrant. He ran down a set of stairs and jumped about 20 feet from a second-story landing, then continued his flight, discarding evidence as he ran. “He threw as much as he could away,” then-Sheriff Randall Liberty said. “He tried to destroy the digital scales, but we caught him and were able to stop him.”
In that case, police reported finding $5,000 worth of drugs.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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