AUGUSTA — Three men from southern Maine are accused of stealing more than $10,000 from the Augusta Elks Lodge last May that was earmarked to cover the costs of a fundraiser for a foundation for wounded veterans.
The trio was arrested in late September in Cumberland County and charged with burglarizing more than 25 businesses in Maine, among them Tobey’s General Store in China.
Taylor Schultz, 34, of Biddeford, Michael J. Warner II, 37, of Freeport, and Charles York 38, of Portland, each face two counts of burglary and theft by unauthorized taking and one count of aggravated criminal mischief and criminal mischief in connection with the Augusta break-ins.
They were indicted Friday by a grand jury in Kennebec County on charges related to the Elks Club burglary overnight May 25-26 and another on Aug. 21-22 at Twins Country Market, also in Augusta, where they are accused of stealing more than $1,000 in cash and cigarettes.
An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but it indicates that there is enough evidence to proceed with formal charges and a trial.
Tim Rodrigue, who was chairman of the fundraiser and a trustee on the Elks Lodge Board, said $10,300 was stolen.
“It was seed money for the event,” Rodrigue said. “They actually stole all of it.”
He also said that the intruders damaged a safe and doors and smashed the security system to pieces, and that insurance covered damages and a portion of the money stolen.
The money was intended to pay for the costs of hosting a July music fundraiser for the Travis Mills Foundation. The money was replaced via several other fundraisers, and the event went on as scheduled and raised almost $15,000 for the Mills Foundation.
Mills is a Manchester resident and quadruple amputee wounded in 2012 by an improvised explosive device during his third tour of duty as an Army staff sergeant in Afghanistan. He started the foundation to create a retreat for disabled and wounded veterans and their families at the former Elizabeth Arden estate in Mount Vernon and Rome to offer adaptive recreational activities.
A number of other people were indicted on various charges Friday by a grand jury in Kennebec County.
• William L. Austin, 28, of Augusta, three counts of theft by unauthorized taking July 16-Aug. 18 and unlawful possession of heroin Oct. 1, all in Augusta.
• Wilbur Lee Austin, 51, of Augusta, four counts of theft by unauthorized taking and three counts of violation of condition of release, July 23-Aug. 30, in Waterville and Augusta.
• Stephen Gerard Bailey Sr., 52, of Augusta, aggravated assault, domestic violence criminal threatening and obstructing report of crime or injury Oct. 28 in Augusta.
• Chad Nathan Bartos, also known as Nate Corliss, 39, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, aggravated assault, domestic violence assault, theft by unauthorized taking and terrorizing Jan. 20-21 in Waterville.
• Wayne L. Bland, 37, of Windsor, reckless conduct with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person Jan. 9 in Windsor.
• Derek D. Bonenfant, 41, of Winthrop, aggravated criminal operating under the influence and operating after revocation July 18 in Manchester.
• June L. Brann, 37, of Augusta, operating after revocation Aug. 6 in Waterville.
• Buddy S. Burton Jr., 34, of Mount Vernon, five counts of theft by unauthorized taking Feb. 20-March 1 in Augusta.
• Zachary N. Carey, 21, of Farmingdale, robbery and theft by unauthorized taking Sept. 26 in Augusta.
• Marlon Cloutier, 24, of Augusta, two counts of theft by unauthorized taking and one count each of burglary and possession of burglary tools Aug. 4 in Sidney and aggravated assault, assault and criminal use of disabling chemicals Aug. 21 in Augusta.
• Joshua S. Crawford, 27, of Waterville, burglary and theft by unauthorized taking Oct. 4 in Waterville.
• Matthew J. Davidson, 29, of Fairfield, eluding an officer, criminal speed, operating after suspension and violation of condition of release April 6 in Waterville.
• Edward T. Dawe, 24, of Waterville, three counts of aggravated trafficking in more than one pound of marijuana, one count unlawful possession of more than one pound of marijuana and two counts of criminal forfeiture, $57,059 in cash and $73,062.87 in electronic funds, Oct. 13-22 in Waterville.
• Adam P. Dyer, 28, of Winslow, gross sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor and furnishing liquor to a minor Oct. 9 in Clinton.
• Sterling D. Finch, 43, of Waterville, theft by unauthorized taking May 21-July 29, 2013, in Waterville.
• Amber Frost, 24, of Waterville, conspiracy to commit trafficking in marijuana and criminal forfeiture of $73,062.87 in electronic funds, both Oct. 22 in Waterville.
• Michael Scott Furbush, 29, of Vassalboro, operating after revocation, failure to stop for an officer and driving to endanger Aug. 4 in Vassalboro.
• Heather N. Giroux, 36, of Benton, theft by deception and misuse of identification Aug. 14-Sept. 10, 2013, in Benton.
• Heath M. Hanson, 42, of Standish, operating after revocation and violation of a protective order Aug. 14 in Hallowell.
• Jason S. Harfoush, 32, of Vassalboro, operating after revocation Aug. 12 in Vassalboro.
• Kevin W. Henderson, 41, of Winslow, aggravated assault and assault Oct. 3 in Waterville.
• Raymond R. Killam, 42, of Fairfield, eight counts of gross sexual assault, two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of unlawful sexual touching and domestic violence assault, all involving the same victim April 9-Sept. 19 in Waterville.
• Mickey Leigh Labreck, 46, of Augusta, theft by unauthorized taking Sept. 22 in Augusta.
• Scott Adam Leo, 27, of Oakland, theft by unauthorized taking Sept. 1 in Waterville.
• Darrell L. Lola, 52, of Livermore Falls, theft by deception and unemployment fraud May 4-Aug. 24, 2013, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person Nov. 12, 2015, all in Monmouth.
• Justin E. McInnis, 32, of Augusta, operating after revocation May 15 in Randolph and fishing without a license May 15 in Gardiner.
• Joshua W. McMillan, 21, of Gardiner, domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence assault, obstructing report of crime or injury and criminal mischief Oct. 10 in Randolph.
• Elizabeth A. Munster, 34, of Whitefield, unlawful possession of heroin and unlawful possession of suboxone Oct. 5 in Augusta.
• Joseph Anthony Oliveira Jr., 26, of Augusta, aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine, aggravated trafficking in heroin, unlawful possession of cocaine, unlawful possession of heroin, trafficking in prison contraband (heroin) and violation of condition of release, all Oct. 14 in Augusta.
• Daryl Emery Pratt, 80, of Oakland, three counts each of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon (a car) and assault July 4 in Winslow.
• Nicholas Rolling, 23, of Augusta, two counts of unlawful trafficking in cocaine Aug. 18 in Augusta.
• Brian C. Sanderson, 38, of Belfast, burglary and theft by unauthorized taking Aug. 9 and criminal mischief April 23, all in China.
• Scott D. Smith, 31, of Readfield, theft by unauthorized taking May 27-June 30, 2015, in Manchester and China.
• Michael J. Sullivan, 31, of Augusta, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon Aug. 31 in Augusta.
• Kristen N. Swift, 27, Augusta, unlawful trafficking in crack cocaine, unlawful trafficking in heroin, trafficking in heroin, trafficking in prison contraband (heroin and/or fentanyl) and violation of condition of release, all Oct. 14 in Augusta.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
Send questions/comments to the editors.
