A North Monmouth man faces multiple charges after he allegedly stole money, medical marijuana, a smoking device and surveillance equipment from a home near downtown Monmouth, then ditched the surveillance equipment as he drove away from the scene.
Some of that equipment was destroyed, but police still were able to recover video that showed Ronald R. Hinkley Jr., 18, entering the home and pocketing a security camera that sat atop a refrigerator, authorities allege in court documents.
In part because of that video, Monmouth police confronted Hinkley, and he admitted having broken into the home on Berry Road, Officer Dana Wessling wrote in a probable cause affidavit.
Wessling arrested Hinkley on Friday last week, charging him with burglary, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, criminal mischief and stealing drugs.
Hinkley was taken to Kennebec County jail in Augusta, then released Monday after a judge set his bail at $2,000 cash. During Hinkley’s initial appearance at the Capital Judicial Center, he did not offer a plea, according to court documents.
Police have accused Hinkley of taking $4,000 in cash from a man who lived at the home on Berry Road. The man reportedly was saving that cash to buy a car.
Police also accused Hinkley of taking the security camera and a related piece of equipment, which were valued at $400, and throwing that equipment out the window of his red Dodge pickup truck as he drove away from the scene.
Later, the victim told police he also was missing medical marijuana and a water pipe that he used to smoke it, which had a $100 value.
When Wessling spoke with Hinkley, he allegedly admitted having taken the money and spending a portion of it, buying $1,100 worth of marijuana concentrate from someone in Wayne, and $600 in merchandise from a head shop in Hallowell.
He still had about $975 on him, police said, but it’s not clear what happened to the remaining cash. According to Wessling, Hinkley said “he cannot remember where the other $1,200 went.”
Hinkley returned the water pipe to police, Wessling said, but he told them that he already had smoked the medical marijuana from the Monmouth home.
He also helped police recover the video system that he allegedly had taken and thrown out of his car, but some of the equipment was smashed to pieces and a camera couldn’t be found. Wessling didn’t indicate how he was able to view video captured by the equipment.
Burglary and theft are class B and c felonies, respectively, each punishable by more than a year in jail. The other two charges are each class D misdemeanors. Hinkley’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 15.
Charles Eichacker — 621-5642
Twitter: @ceichacker
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