AUGUSTA — A city man who served prison time for vehicular manslaughter will be back behind bars for eight months for violating probation by using heroin.
Roger T. Linton II, 50, was in court at the Capital Judicial Center Monday to admit the probation violation on April 7, 2018.
Linton was “found unconscious having overdosed on heroin at a Hannaford supermarket,” according to a prosecutor.
Linton had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated operating under the influence in 2009 and was sentenced to serve an initial eight years in prison, with the remainder of the 15-year sentence suspended while he served four years of probation.
The fatal crash occurred Oct. 7, 2008, when Linton, then living in Readfield, was driving a loaded steel flatbed owned by Forgotten Stoneworks Inc., of Manchester. His truck struck a vehicle driven by James J. Carey, of Belgrade, on Route 27 in Chelsea.
Investigators said tests taken shortly after the fatal crash showed Linton’s blood-alcohol level was 0.12, more than one-third higher than the legal limit of 0.08 for those over the age of 21.
Linton had three earlier drunken-driving convictions.
He was released on probation in October 2015.
On Monday, Linton pleaded guilty to violating probation and was ordered to serve eight months of the suspended portion of the sentence. His probation will continue when he is released. In exchange for the plea, new charges involving the incident were dismissed.
Linton’s attorney, Henry Beck, said he wanted the judge to recognize “the extraordinary effort my client made to seek rehabilitation services.”
Beck told Justice William Stokes that Linton was able to access insurance that will cover 28 days of substance abuse treatment but nothing longer. Linton’s probation officer has recommended a minimum six-month program.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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