FARMINGTON — A Jay man pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated criminal mischief for his part in a Wilton arson case on June 27, 2015.
Devon Pease, 23, also pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of theft related to the convenience store break-ins in Jay, New Vineyard and Weld. They all occurred on June 30 and July 1, 2015.
Pease and three co-defendants face arson charges for intentionally burning a vacant home at 9 Sewall St. in Wilton.
Pease’s involvement in the Wilton arson case seems to be limited to supplying the gas and the can and offering where they could get more gas, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins said.
“Mr. Pease has a severe alcohol abuse” history, he said.
He noted that though Pease told co-defendants that he had a gas can, one of the other defendants got out at Pease’s house to get the can.
Pease was dropped off at his home in Jay prior to a camp being burned in Carthage.
Pease also stayed in the car when he and four others went in to burglarize Skoolhouse Variety in Weld, My Dad’s Place in Jay and Our Village Market in New Vineyard.
His role is accomplice liability, Robbins said.
Justice William Stokes sentenced Pease to five years in prison with all but six months suspended, followed by two years probation.
He also was sentenced to two years, all suspended, followed by two years of probation for the burglaries to run concurrent to the arson sentence.
It means Pease will be on probation for a total of four years.
Pease must also help pay restitution during probation: $350 for Skoolhouse Variety, $500 for Our Village Market, $744 for My Dad’s Place and up to $4,400 for the Wilton home.
He also must continue substance abuse counseling, his attorney, Luann Calcagni, said.
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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