WOODSTOCK — A local man was charged Tuesday with taking a car and setting it on fire.

Carl Richard Lang, 21, of 60 Andrews Hill, was arrested on charges of arson, burglary of a motor vehicle, theft and unauthorized use of property.

According to a report by Cpl. Justin Brown of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Lang and Benjamin M. Smith of West Paris broke into businesses to steal alcohol, broke into multiple cars to take change, and stole a vehicle from a parking lot and drove around before setting it on fire. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Oct. 22, according to the report.

The car belonged to Rebecca Richards of West Paris and was parked at her workplace. She said when she left work, it was missing. The car was found burned on Churchill Hill Road in Woodstock.

Brown wrote that Lang and a friend, who hadn’t been arrested as of Wednesday evening, took change from several cars, as well as alcohol from a gas station.

Brown first spoke with Smith, who said it was Lang who stole the car. He said Lang broke into Gordie Howe’s Store on Route 2 but Smith admitted to helping carry beer out. Smith said he left the car when he realized it had been stolen, and that Lang later said he’d disposed of the car.

Lang told Brown it was Smith who filled the car with leaves and set it on fire, according to the report. He said he had nothing to do with the arson.

Lang was still at the Oxford County Jail on Wednesday evening. His bail was set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 surety.

treaves@sunjournal.com

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