AUGUSTA, Maine — A Readfield man authorities say robbed the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses when he knew they were at church meetings has pleaded guilty to multiple burglary and theft charges.
Jarrod Bilodeau admitted Thursday in Kennebec County Superior Court to stealing jewelry and other items from homes in Augusta, Farmingdale, Vassalboro, Wayne and Winthrop, between Nov. 17 and Dec. 12.
The prosecutor said the victims considered the 27-year-old Bilodeau family.
The Kennebec Journal reports that Bilodeau will be sentenced later this month so the judge can hear from victims.
Prosecutors and Bilodeau’s attorney recommended a sentence of four years in jail with all but six months suspended and three years of probation.
What difference does it make that they are Jehovah’s Witnesses? Doe this make the crime more sinister than if they were Methodists?
The Witnesses will pray for him.
They will visit him in jail at random times.
Sinister?……Hhmmmm……
His ‘method’ was to scout the group and find their homes.
He could have tried Methodists but he was sharp enough to know that unless it was a bean supper, Easter, or Christmas the Methodist would probably still be home. :-)
Zing!
Touché. :)
I don’t think it makes the crime more sinister. I think the fact that they are Jehovah’s Witnesses are important to the story though, as he knew when they would be at meetings, and used the time when he knew they wouldn’t be home to rob them. It may not have been important to the headline, but using the knowledge of their faith and meeting times to his advantage is important to the story itself.
absolutely ! if they were Methodist he would surely go to Hell.
Hate crime?
Not even close…
He targeted a specific group.
Why don’t you try read more into it and MAKE it one?
Hate crimes are either violence or harassment based.
Robbing certain houses because you know the owners are at church is just opportunistic.
He targeted a regular pattern that a family who happens to be Jehovah’s Witness have. It would be a hate crime if he harmed them physically because of their religion, not because he robbed them when he knew they wouldn’t be home.
Where are the editors? Does anybody proof read what they write anymore? No wonder nobody put their name to this article.
Hey editors, what exactly is this sentence supposed to be saying:
“The prosecutor said the victims considered the 27-year-old Bilodeau family.”
It means that they considered the man who stole from them a member of their family. They trusted him, and he took advantage of that trust.
Thank you.
You’re welcome
Apparently he had a relationship with the victims, but the reporter didn’t bother to find out what it was.
If he repents,he wont be disfellowshipped!
Payback for beating on Biledeau’s door to spread the Word?
This way of robbing people’s homes when it’s known that the homeowners are away at particular times (i.e. church, work or in some reported cases while at a funeral) is truly cowardly…..give him the max punishment please……
Most Jehovahs Witnesses are victims of a dangerous mind controlling cult. The cult covers up and protects acts of child abuse.Jehovahs Witnesses do nothing without consulting the Watchtower Society,and I am frankly,surprised that they were allowed to report this crime.The cult is very very closed mouthed about internal issues..Check out the recent case of Candace Conti in California.Just one of the many, many victims of this subversive cult…
umm.. so a court found them responsible for sexual abuse.. how does this make them subversive? Doesn’t it just make them Catholic?
JEEEEEHOOOOOOOOOVAHHHHHHHHHHHHH will git him fer this, let’s keep the State out of it, don’t waste our tax dollars….