AUGUSTA — A woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to a series of theft charges, including one in which she clogged a toilet in Rite Aid in Waterville with packaging from items that she had shoplifted from the store.
Vanessa Cayford, 37, pleaded guilty to 19 separate charges — 18 of them misdemeanors — in Kennebec County Superior Court. The offenses occurred largely in 2011 and 2012.
Conditions of probation ban her from being in the Waterville stores where those thefts occurred: Rite Aid, Family Dollar Store, Hannaford supermarket, Marden’s, Kmart, Walmart and Shaw’s supermarket.
Cayford also pleaded guilty to stealing jewelry worth more than $1,000 from Day’s Jewelers on Main Street in downtown Waterville. Cayford had been indicted last year on that offense, which occurred on Nov. 10, 2010.
Cayford told the judge she returned the stolen earrings — unworn — the day after taking them from the store. She gave them back to a police officer who was investigating the theft and had seen her on videotape leaving the store with something in her hand. “I think my medication got to me that day,” Cayford said in court. “I did apologize.”
She is banned from being at the Day’s Jewelers as well.
Cayford was sentenced to three years in jail, with all but 45 days suspended, and two years of probation.
Conditions of probation also prohibit her from using alcohol and illegal drugs. She also was ordered to pay $244 restitution for the items she took from Rite Aid on Feb. 22. The stolen items were recovered in the other thefts.
Several other people were sentenced Tuesday in separate hearings in Kennebec County Superior Court:
* Eugene T. Hassell, 29, of Augusta, operating after revocation Jan. 10 in Augusta; 30-day jail sentence, $750 fine.
* Leroy T. Jones, 32, of Belgrade, failure to comply with sex offender registry Aug. 16, in Belgrade; two-year jail sentence, with all but 30 days suspended, two years of probation.
* Amos J. Knox, 23, of Augusta, operating while license suspended or revoked March 2 in Waterville; $750 fine.
* Iris Laverdiere, 23, of Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer Aug. 16 in Waterville; 10-day jail sentence to be served in the alternative sentencing program; restitution $295.
* David Allen Moody, 43, of Readfield, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer Aug. 26, 2010, in Manchester; 90-day jail sentence concurrent with another sentence; $10 restitution.
* Michael S. Newcombe, 27, formerly of Whitefield, assault Jan. 3 in Augusta; 60-day jail sentence; $300 fine.
* Jake J. Pilsbury, 20, of Somerville, burglary Sept. 13, in Augusta; 10-month prison sentence concurrent to a sentence he is already serving.
* Mathieu P. Poulin, 36, of Randolph, theft by deception in Augusta and operating while license suspended or revoked Nov. 23, in Gardiner; 180-day jail sentence, with all but 21 days suspended, one year administrative release, $500 fine $1,850 restitution.
* Jeffrey Paulin, 46, of Windsor, unlawful possession of illegal drugs and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer Jan. 22 in Augusta; 10-day jail sentence, $400 fine, $25 restitution.
* Christopher E. Williams, 20, of Augusta, burglary and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer May 20, 2011, in Vassalboro; six-month jail sentence, credit for five months served; up to $500 restitution to be paid during a three-year probation period he is serving on other sentences.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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