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Morning Sentinel
Deputies recover items stolen in camp thefts
BY MORNING SENTINEL STAFF Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 05/06/2008

NORTH ANSON -- Somerset County deputies on Sunday recovered stolen property believed to have come from seven camp burglaries on Chase Pond in Moscow over the weekend. They arrested three people in connection with the discovery.

North Anson residents Justin Steward, 19, and Joshua Hoskins, 20, were each charged with seven counts of burglary, Class B; four counts of theft, Class B; three counts of theft, Class D and cultivation of marijuana.

Benjamin Pratt, 19, of Bingham, was arrested in a bail search at a residence in Bingham and charged with seven counts of burglary, Class B; four counts of theft, Class B; three counts of theft, Class D; violation of conditions of release and receiving stolen property, Class D.

The total value of lost items exceeded at least $2,000, he said. The theft of firearms elevated those charges, he said. A Class B felony theft is punishable by up to 10 years in jail and up to $10,000 in fines, according to police.

Items from the camps were found during the search of a Solon Road residence belonging to Hoskins and Steward, according to Det. Lt. Carl E. Gottardi II, supervisor of the criminal-patrol division for the Somerset County Sheriff's Office.

Gottardi said hundreds of dollars worth of items were taken from each camp, including several firearms, fishing equipment, liquor, and a chain saw.

"The camps were close to each other and one (owner) was visiting on Thursday and knew everything was OK then," Gottardi said. "They went back on Saturday and discovered someone had broken in during the day and a half." He said entry was forced.

Deputies David Cole and Zachariah Logiodice investigated reports of the burglary Saturday and, on Sunday, Deputy Ritchie Putnam obtained information identifying suspects. Gottardi obtained a search warrant

Darla L. Pickett -- 474-9534, Ext. 341

dpickett@centralmaine.com

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