NEW GLOUCESTER – New Gloucester Selectman Mark Leighton has been indicted by a Cumberland County grand jury on a felony theft charge stemming from an incident that occurred in October.

According to Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Naldo Gagnon, the 54-year-old Leighton, whose term on the board ends in 2012, was summonsed for class C theft by unauthorized taking Oct. 9. The summons came after Leighton’s sister, Kathy Ramsdell, also of New Gloucester, reported to police that Leighton towed her 1994 Ford Bronco without her permission from 150 Lewiston Road in New Gloucester. The grand jury indicted Leighton on the same charge earlier this month. A class C conviction could result in a maximum of five years in prison.

Ramsdell reported seeing her Bronco being towed away by Leighton in the back of a flat-bed trailer, Gagnon said. He then took it to a scrap metal yard and was compensated for the metal. She also reported to police the vehicle had been stored on the property for several years.

Leighton, who said he has lived and worked in New Gloucester his entire life, said the theft charge and felony indictment is overblown.

When asked to explain the circumstances that led to his recent indictment, Leighton replied via email:

“I also manage my mother’s rental property, and over the years renters come and go and it is not uncommon to have people leave and abandon property such as unwanted items, rusted old vehicles, etc.,” Leighton wrote. “This past October, we did our annual clean-up. The vehicle in question was a 20-year-old rusted Ford Bronco that had been abandoned for seven years. Nobody cared until it was hauled away. These people are trying to hang me for nothing.”

Leighton then referred to internal family conflicts predating the October incident that he said fueled the accusations.

“It is unfortunate that it all came to this,” Leighton continued. “I am sure the court system with all of its faults will see that this is all a big misunderstanding.”

Ramsdell’s husband, Ron Ramsdell, said, “I think the indictment speaks for itself. We would have reported it stolen if it was him, or anyone else.”

NEW GLOUCESTER – New Gloucester Selectman Mark Leighton has been indicted by a Cumberland County grand jury on a felony theft charge stemming from an incident that occurred in October.

According to Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Naldo Gagnon, the 54-year-old Leighton, whose term on the board ends in 2012, was summonsed for class C theft by unauthorized taking Oct. 9. The summons came after Leighton’s sister, Kathy Ramsdell, also of New Gloucester, reported to police that Leighton towed her 1994 Ford Bronco without her permission from 150 Lewiston Road in New Gloucester. The grand jury indicted Leighton on the same charge earlier this month. A class C conviction could result in a maximum of five years in prison.

Ramsdell reported seeing her Bronco being towed away by Leighton in the back of a flat-bed trailer, Gagnon said. He then took it to a scrap metal yard and was compensated for the metal. She also reported to police the vehicle had been stored on the property for several years.

Leighton, who said he has lived and worked in New Gloucester his entire life, said the theft charge and felony indictment is overblown.

When asked to explain the circumstances that led to his recent indictment, Leighton replied via email:

“I also manage my mother’s rental property, and over the years renters come and go and it is not uncommon to have people leave and abandon property such as unwanted items, rusted old vehicles, etc.,” Leighton wrote. “This past October, we did our annual clean-up. The vehicle in question was a 20-year-old rusted Ford Bronco that had been abandoned for seven years. Nobody cared until it was hauled away. These people are trying to hang me for nothing.”

Leighton then referred to internal family conflicts predating the October incident that he said fueled the accusations.

“It is unfortunate that it all came to this,” Leighton continued. “I am sure the court system with all of its faults will see that this is all a big misunderstanding.”

Ramsdell’s husband, Ron Ramsdell, said, “I think the indictment speaks for itself. We would have reported it stolen if it was him, or anyone else.”