LIMINGTON – Town of Limington officials suspected a couple hired to collect beach fees were helping themselves to the money. An undercover sting by York County Sheriff’s Office deputies last month resulted in the pair being charged with theft.

Sheriff William King said Melissa Pomerleau, 41 and Jason Truman, 45, were charged with misdemeanor theft, He said the case is being reviewed by the York County District Attorney’s Office for possible additional, enhanced charges.

Pomerleau and Truman had been living in a camper at the beach during this summer and worked as beach attendants.   

King said town officials confirmed that collected fees were lower this year than previous years and that this is the first year that the two had been employed as collectors at the beach.  Consequently, King said, deputies’ suspicions were raised when on July 26, Pomerleau reported that somebody had stolen the beach fees from her camper.  She told deputies she had collected more $600 and was ready to deposit that money in the town’s account.  

“Deputies constructed a plan to introduce some large bills to the beach fee account to determine if they were being deposited into the town’s account,” King said.  “Utilizing some cooperating citizens and a deputy in an undercover capacity, the cooperating citizens and deputy paid for beach fees with a marked $20 bills”.   

He said deputies then followed Pomerleau to a local store – and it was later determined that she paid for personal items using the marked bill introduced by the undercover deputy.   

 During a subsequent interview with deputies, the pair allegedly admitted to stealing beach fees from the town of Limington, although they could not be certain of the total amount.   

Both are free on personal recognizance bail.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.