AUGUSTA — A burglary suspect who allegedly tried to extort the homeowners afterward was indicted Thursday on seven charges by a grand jury in Kennebec County Superior Court.
Jake J. Pilsbury, 20, of Somerville, is charged with three counts of burglary, three counts of theft by unauthorized taking and one count of theft by extortion in connection with incidents Oct. 29 and Oct. 31 in Augusta and a separate incident July 6 in China.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but an indication that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with formal charges and a trial in superior court.
Pilsbury was arrested in Augusta on Oct. 31 for allegedly breaking into a Green Street home two days earlier and attempting to get money from the homeowners by threatening them, using the wife’s cell phone to call her and demand cash.
The burglar, allegedly Pilsbury, demanded the homeowner put cash in a Dumpster outside a Mount Vernon Avenue business. The homeowner worked with police to convince the suspect the cash had been placed there.
“In almost 27 years as a prosecutor, I don’t ever recall a burglar calling a victim and asking for ransom for their property,” District Attorney Evert Fowle said on Friday. “It was so brazen.”
Pilsbury remains in jail in lieu of $150,000 cash bail.
Other people were indicted Thursday by the same grand jury:
• James D. Barnes Jr., 48, of Clinton, assault July 25, in Augusta.
• Robert C. Bishop, 32, of Waterville, two counts of burglary and one count of theft by unauthorized taking, Oct. 22 and 23, in Waterville.
• Matthew Joseph Buiniskas, 23, of Waterville, unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, conspiracy to commit trafficking, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and criminal forfeiture, all Aug. 31 in Sidney and violation of condition of release Oct. 11, in Waterville.
• Misty L. Doyon, 31, of Oakland, two counts of unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, and one count each of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, conspiracy to commit trafficking and criminal forfeiture between June 9 and Aug. 15, in Waterville and Winslow.
• Timothy James Ezell, 18, of Clinton, unauthorized use of property, burglary of a motor vehicle, and theft by unauthorized taking, all Sept. 20, in Clinton; and refusing to submit to arrest in Benton and a second count of unauthorized use of property in Clinton, both Sept. 30.
• Heidi M. Garland, 32, of Waterville, three counts of unlawful possession of scheduled drugs and one count of criminal forfeiture, all April 2, in Waterville.
• Joshua S. Hood, 30, of Sidney, domestic-violence assault and domestic-violence terrorizing July 15; domestic-violence assault, domestic-violence terrorizing and furnishing liquor to a minor Aug. 14, in Augusta.
• Sheldon C. Hopkins, 33, of Skowhegan, aggravated assault and assault May 17, in Waterville.
• Kevin W. Killion, 24, of Waterville, burglary, and two counts of theft by unauthorized taking between Aug. 1 and Aug. 31, in Waterville.
• Tony A. Leland, 46, of Biddeford, unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, criminal operating under the influence, violation of condition of release and endangering the welfare of a child, all Nov. 4, in Sidney.
• Jason A. Michaud, 45, of Albion, aggravated assault and criminal mischief June 6, in Waterville.
• Joshua P. Michaud, 36, of Winslow, two counts of unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs, and one count each of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, conspiracy to commit trafficking, and criminal forfeiture, all between June 9 and Aug. 15, in Waterville and Winslow.
• Wallace Conrad Moore, 52, of Vassalboro, unlawful sexual contact, unlawful sexual touching and assault, all Nov. 15, in Vassalboro.
• Erik D. Powers, 21, of Fairfield, theft by unauthorized taking, conspiracy to commit theft, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, all Oct. 9, in Gardiner.
• Damien G. Rogers, 39, of Fairfield, elevated aggravated assault and violation of condition of release Oct. 11, in Winslow.
• Ronald C. Willey, 28, of Vassalboro, two counts of domestic violence assault and one count of domestic violence terrorizing, all Oct. 30, in Rome.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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