HOLLIS

Frosty window blamed in rear ending of school bus

A 34-year-old Hollis man who didn’t adequately defrost his windshield rear-ended a stopped school bus loaded with elementary school students Tuesday morning, police said.

The crash happened at 8:23 a.m. on Hemlock Cove Road when the 2002 Hyundai Accent driven by Trevor Jacobs struck the back of the bus, according to the York County Sheriff’s Office.

Jacobs had just left his home and the combination of frost on the windshield and glare from the sun apparently prevented him from seeing the bus. The Bonny Eagle bus, driven by Sarah Maraen, had just picked up a student and was still stopped with its red lights flashing, authorities said.

The bus was carrying 19 students, ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade. No students were hurt, but Jacobs was taken to Maine Medical Center with minor injuries.

PORTLAND

Police invite gay community to forum on safety concerns

Portland police are inviting members of the city’s gay and lesbian community to a forum later this month to discuss safety concerns and ways the department can improve its relationship with that community.

“Easy access and open communication are basic tenets for how the police department operates in Portland,” said Portland Police Chief James Craig. “This forum provides members of the city’s gay community an opportunity to voice their concerns and be heard.”

The forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at the University of Southern Maine’s Abromson Community Education Center, 88 Bedford St.

BRENTWOOD, N.H.

Two Mainers to plead guilty in burglary of officer’s home

Two Maine residents are expected to plead guilty to state charges in New Hampshire stemming from the burglary of the home of a Hampton police officer and other crimes.

Adam Pento, 32, of Sanford and Rebecca Paulhus, 37, of Kennebunk are due to appear Thursday in Rockingham County Superior Court. The two are also facing federal charges.

Police say the two broke into a police officer’s house in North Hampton on Feb. 5, and stole items including two handguns.

The Portsmouth Herald reported that the two then stopped a car, pulled a gun and ordered the owner to drive them away. The owner was later released unharmed.

BRIDGTON

Ex-bookkeeper charged in theft from N.H. business

A 47-year-old woman has been arrested on charges of stealing more than $23,000 from her New Hampshire employer.

WMTW-TV reported that Cheryl Graves was arrested at her Bridgton home Tuesday and charged with unauthorized taking.

Police say she is accused of stealing the money from the business checking account of Hanson Excavating in Conway, N.H., from 2004 to 2007 while she was a bookkeeper.

Graves is free on bail.

SANFORD

Police seeking suspect in savings bank robbery

Police responded to a bank robbery at the Sanford Institute for Savings in Springvale on Monday at 3:15 pm.

The male suspect was wearing a dark hood and a facemask and was described as looking like the “grim reaper,” police said. He demanded money, then fled with an undetermined amount of cash. No weapon was shown and no one was hurt.

Witnesses describe the man as 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds. He may have bright paint on his skin or clothing caused by bank security measures, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sanford police at 324-3644.

BANGOR

Man sentence to four years for wire, investment fraud

A Maine man convicted of 13 counts of wire fraud has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Todd Denson, 50, of Stockton Springs and Belfast, also must pay more than $21,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors say Denson conducted a scheme that defrauding seven investors of more than $20,000.

U.S. Attorney Thomas Delahanty II said Denson was on supervised release from prison at the time of those crimes. He had been sentenced previously to 18 months for mail and wire fraud in a similar scheme.

On Monday, he was sentenced to 30 months on the wire fraud charges and 15 months for violating his supervised release.

MILBRIDGE

Officials report body of missing woman is found

The Maine Warden Service says the body of a 58-year-old Milbridge woman who had been reported missing has been found.

The body of Mary Kelly was found late Tuesday morning about a mile west of her home along the Narraguagus River shoreline.

Kelly was last seen on Friday morning at the Milbridge Post Office dropping off her mail. She was reported missing Monday by a co-worker. Kelly owned a local flower shop.

Officials do not believe Kelley’s death was the result of foul play.