AUGUSTA — A former Readfield man accused of committing an armed home invasion Sept. 22 in Randolph remained in jail Monday in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.

Kenneth Joseph Maker II, 25, now of Augusta, was arrested last Wednesday night at the Augusta State Armory parking lot on Western Avenue on a warrant charging him with robbery, burglary and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.

The 79-year-old owner of a home on Elm Street in Randolph was awakened about 11:15 p.m. on Sept. 22 by a knife-wielding man who demanded that the homeowner open his safe, according to an affidavit filed by Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office Detective David Bucknam.

When the homeowner refused, the knife-wielding intruder punched him in the face and said other people would kill the homeowner’s son, who lived next door, if the homeowner did not cooperate.

The robber got between $10,000 and $11,000 from the safe, according to several people who were interviewed in the investigation.

Bucknam said the robber wore a black, hooded sweatshirt and had white gauze-like material wrapped around his face.

Cpl. G. J. Neagle of the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, and his police dog, found a white gauze material in hedges outside the victim’s home. DNA testing on the material was a match to Maker, Bucknam said.

The dog followed a track to a parking area where Bucknam found tire tracks and two separate sets of footprints in the mud.

Deputies at the time said the home invasion appeared to be random and isolated.

Bucknam said the sheriff’s office sought an arrest warrant for Maker because there were indications he knew he was wanted for questioning and he had plans to leave shortly for Miami.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@mainetoday.com

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