WEST BATH, Maine — A Limestone man arrested nine times for operating under the influence pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon to the ninth charge and was sentenced to nine years in prison, with all but seven years suspended.
Mark Burson, 56, was arrested the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 7 after his pickup truck struck a Topsham police cruiser on the southbound Interstate 295 offramp in Topsham.
His blood alcohol content at the time was four times the legal limit.
He pleaded guilty on Wednesday to Class B felony aggravated criminal operating under the influence, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
The officer, Lucas Shirland, suffered whiplash and neck pain, Topsham Police Chief Chris Lewis told The Forecaster. Shirland was treated and released from Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick.
Alex Willette, assistant district attorney for Sagadahoc County, told Justice Beth Dobson on Wednesday that Burson was arrested with a blood alcohol content of .35. Willette also told Dobson that Burson has served significant jail time for previous convictions. He said Dobson was convicted for OUI in 1979, 1980 and twice in 1990.
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