Lewiston man accused of stealing from burned apartment in Phillips

PHILLIPS — A Lewiston man is accused of stealing items from a fire-damaged apartment in the building where he had lived at 32 Dodge Road, Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. wrote in a news release.

Larry Lawrence Plourde, 40, was arrested Tuesday on Class C charges of burglary, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and violating conditions of release, Nichols said.

Plourde was living in the first-floor apartment at the time the second-floor apartment was damaged in a grease fire on a kitchen stove Jan. 14. The flames spread into the walls, ceiling, attic and eaves of the building.

Nine occupants from both apartments were displaced.

Franklin County Deputy Derrick Doucette was contacted by the second-floor tenant who reported the theft of his TV and PlayStation from his burned apartment, Nichols wrote. The tenant said Plourde asked him if his TV and PlayStation had burned, so the tenant returned to his apartment and found both missing, according to Nichols.

Another person advised the tenant Plourde had his missing items, Nichols wrote.

Doucette, sheriff’s Lt. David St. Laurent and Farmington police officer Ryan Rosie went to a Farmington motel and confronted Plourde about the missing items.

“Larry Plourde eventually admitted to taking the items from the residence and was arrested,” Nichols wrote.

Plourde was taken to the Franklin County Detention Center and was to be arraigned before a judge Wednesday. A jail officer said Plourde was still incarcerated Wednesday night.

A conviction on a Class C charge is punishable by a maximum five years in prison and a maximum $5,000 fine.