FARMINGTON — A local teenager pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $50,000 in cash and jewelry from a Wilton residence in April, according to court documents.
The boy, who was 17 at the time and is now 18, admitted to the felony charges of burglary and theft in Juvenile Court in Farmington, documents state.
A conviction on either charge carries a sentence of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The teenager entered into a two-year agreement that defers sentencing to Oct. 25, 2016. He is required to comply with the criteria outlined in the document. Special conditions of the agreement include no use or possession of alcohol or illegal drugs and he must submit to search of person, vehicle and residence and submit to chemical test upon a request of a law enforcement officer.
He is also required to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete counseling, as indicated in the agreement, and provide proof that he completed it to the District Attorney’s Office.
If he successfully completes the agreement, he will be able to withdraw his plea to the felony charges and plead to a misdemeanor theft charge.
He and co-defendant Brian Durrell, 18, of New Sharon also must pay jointly $28,822.68 in restitution by Sept. 1, 2016. If one of them does not pay, the other one has to make up the difference.
Durrell pleaded guilty to the same charges on Oct. 8. He also entered into an agreement that delays sentencing for two years.
Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins said at Durrell’s hearing that if the case had gone to trial, testimony would have said that the owners of the home returned home from vacation April 30 and discovered the theft. A witness told them that he had seen a truck belonging to Durrell, a friend of a family member.
Testimony from Wilton police would also show that during their investigation, it was discovered that some of the jewelry was sold in stores in Bangor and Farmington. In one case, Durrell told the owner that the jewelry was bequeathed to him.
Wilton police would also testify that Durrell and the juvenile admitted to stealing the jewelry and cash, Robbins said.
Wilton police Chief Heidi Wilcox previously said they had recovered more than $10,000 in merchandise.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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