The owner of funeral homes in Lincoln and Millinocket was arrested Sunday amid an investigation into the alleged theft and misuse of funds.
Harold “Chip” Lamson, 53, was charged with two felony counts of theft, according to Lincoln Police Chief Mark Leonard.
Lamson was taken to the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor, where he posted bail. He was scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 8, Leonard said.
Police have received more than 50 complaints against Lamson since officers executed search warrants at Lamson Funeral Home locations in Lincoln and Millinocket on May 9, according to Leonard. That investigation was prompted by complaints of theft or misuse of money from funeral trusts established through his business.
Lamson Funeral Home also has a location in Danforth, according to its website.
That comes after the Maine Board of Funeral Services met last Tuesday to revoke Lamson’s funeral practitioner license for five years. The revocation of Lamson’s license was part of a consent agreement in which he admitted “without dispute” to more than 60 violations of the board’s statutes, rules and code of ethics dating back to 2022.
Lamson, who was first licensed in 1995 and owns the business with his wife, Lisa, can apply to have his license reinstated after three years. During this time, he is prohibited from seeking any funeral home-related licenses.
His license remains in place for 120 days to allow Lamson time to conclude business with his current clients. Lamson is allowed to hire a licensed funeral practitioner to keep his business going. His attorney said last week that Lamson is in talks with someone to do so because he provides the only funeral services in the area.
Lamson has two other consent agreements from 2021 and 2022. He had a year of probation and a fine of $750 because of a failure to communicate in 2022 with family about installing a gravemarker. In 2021, Lamson failed to return roughly $5,800 from a mortuary trust in a timely fashion. He was issued a warning and had to pay a fine, according to the consent agreement.
Leonard released no additional information, citing an “active criminal investigation.”
BDN writer Marie Weidmayer contributed to this report.
