A former Maine prison official was sentenced to prison after he took a bribe and spent nearly $2.4 million of stolen money.
Gerald Merrill, 64, of Abbot, pleaded guilty March 16 to theft by unauthorized taking and bribery of official and political matters in Penobscot County Superior Court. He was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for the theft, with all but 5 years suspended, as well as five years to be served concurrently for the bribery charge.
Merrill’s sentence matched a plea agreement he reached with the Office of the Maine Attorney General. He will also serve three years of probation.
He was also ordered to pay $502,130 in restitution to the Maine Department of Corrections.
Merrill was the deputy superintendent and business manager at the Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston and the Downeast Correctional Facility in Machiasport at the time of the thefts. Melanie High was also charged with theft by unauthorized taking and bribery of official and political matters. She pleaded guilty to the charges on Nov. 3, 2025.
From March 2014 to July 23, 2023, Merrill allegedly used state-issued credit cards to make payments to five companies controlled by High. He then received kickbacks and other payments to his personal accounts.
Merrill bought nearly $2.4 million in maintenance supplies from five vendors and most supplies were not delivered. The vendors were connected to High or people who knew her.
A jury trial was scheduled to start March 19 before Merrill pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with the attorney general’s office. The agreement is for 10 years in prison with all but five years suspended, plus three years of probation, Assistant Attorney General Charlie Boyle said.
High is scheduled to be sentenced June 8.
