A Damariscotta man will serve six months in jail for his role in burglaries and thefts at three Newcastle businesses, including Lincoln County Publishing Company.
Charles J. “C.J.” Scavetta, 25, pleaded guilty to felony burglary and misdemeanor theft by unauthorized taking for his June 2012 burglary of the Newcastle Publick House restaurant.
Scavetta entered the restaurant through a window and stole cash, Lt. Michael Murphy of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said in September.
Scavetta also pleaded guilty to felony theft by receiving stolen property for his role in an August 2012 theft from Lincoln County Publishing Company and Standpipe Redemption. Lincoln County Publishing Company publishes The Lincoln County News.
Scavetta was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections with all but a 60-day jail sentence suspended and two years of probation for both of the felony charges and 60 days for the misdemeanor charge.
He will serve the three 60-day sentences concurrently, meaning he will serve a maximum of 60 days unless he violates probation. He must also pay $1214.95 in restitution.
His probation conditions require him to avoid excessive alcohol use, complete substance abuse treatment and submit to random search and testing for dangerous weapons, drugs and firearms.
Burglars stole three cameras and two new Dell Latitude laptops from the newspaper offices, as well as 50 large bags of returnable cans from the redemption center.
Scavetta and one of his roommates, Corey Cookson, 31, began returning the bottles during multiple trips to Townline Video Plus in Warren in the two days after the burglary, according to a statement by LCSO Detective Terry Michaud.
LCSO executed a search warrant at Scavetta’s Damariscotta apartment after receiving a tip about the men returning the bottles, according to Michaud. Deputies located the cameras, computers and 11 bags of cans at the residence.
The deputies also obtained security camera footage of Cookson and Scavetta returning the bottles. LCSO obtained an arrest warrant for Scavetta Aug. 31 and arrested him Sept. 7 after receiving a tip regarding his whereabouts.
Cookson and another roommate, Chad L. Legere, 29, have been indicted on a single felony charge each of receiving stolen property. Those cases are still pending.
