FARMINGTON – A Strong couple was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay nearly $200,000 in restitution, after pleading guilty to 14 counts of failing to pay taxes or file returns.
Joseph Haynes, 45, and Christina Haynes, 42, both of Strong, pleaded guilty to 14 misdemeanor counts of failing to pay taxes or file returns; Joseph Haynes in court Wendesday and Christina Haynes on July 17.
The charges relate to a failure to pay the appropriate Maine income taxes in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and a failure to pay state corporate income taxes in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for the Haynes’ business, Western Maine Welding and Pipefitting, Inc. Charges relate to either a failure to pay the appropriate amount of money, tallied at $199,996 for the purposes of the arranged plea, or a failure to file returns.
The arranged plea includes an agreed-upon sentence of 364 days in jail, the maximum allowable by law, with all but 30 days suspended, for both defendants’ on the first count of failing to pay taxes.
The Haynes were ordered to repay $199,996 restitution, with Christina Haynes paying $50 per month and Joseph Haynes paying $250 per month.
Each defendant will be on probation for 12 months after their release from jail.
At $300/mo. it will take 55.5 years to repay the $200K. Factoring in how little impact that payment will have as inflation rises and considering the last payment wouldn’t be until the defendant is over 100 yrs. old, this crime was actually a pretty good investment.
At that rate he’ll be 100 and she’ll be 97 when they pay off their debt. Ridiculous!
At that rate it will only take 55.55 years to pay back.? not including interest.
@Captain Planet. They defraud the taxpayers (us!) of $200,000.00. Who you think has to make up that deficit to pay for government services like police, fire, ambulance, schools, etc. US! Not good investment for us. Selfish scofflaws, if you ask me.
State corporate taxes in the amount of $ 200,000 is a huge amount to pay the state for four years of income taxes. I’m betting most of this is interest and penalties for not filing. Maybe they only owed $ 20,000 total.
sad situation, but no one is to blame except the individuals. its a lot of money to have to pay back, they have a family so they need to make sure they make their payments on time or else go to jail. at least they are trying to pay it..the judge could have thrown the book at them big time…
You all do realize if you owe the state of federal back taxes they’ll keep any refunds you get in the future? That will go towards the balance they owe as well IF they don’t have to pay in obviously. I do agree that the monthy payment doesn’t make any sense considering I’ve owed the IRS myself and they surely weren’t so kind with my payment arrangent and I didn’t owe nearly as much as these two people!
What a joke! If other citizens commit the same crime will they get the same slap on the wrist? These people deserve handcuffs instead!
Watchdog, what sense does it make to spend more tax money by keeping someone in jail, when they could be paying back?