BANGOR, Maine — A Hermon couple were indicted Wednesday by the Penobscot County grand jury in connection with what appears to be a drug-related robbery Oct. 25 and a burglary and theft in September.
Maxwell Stein and Brianna Stein, both 21, each were indicted on charges of robbery and violation of a condition of release. In addition to those counts, he was indicted on one count each of burglary and theft by unauthorized taking. She also was indicted on charges of receiving stolen property, reckless conduct and driving to endanger.
Maxwell Stein remained Wednesday at the Penobscot County Jail. He was ordered held without bail on Oct. 26 when he made his first court appearance. Brianna Stein has been released on $2,500 cash bail and is under house arrest, according to the Penobscot County district attorney’s office.
The most serious charge of robbery stemmed from a report to police that a man was being dragged behind a car near the intersection of Court and Ohio streets in Bangor the afternoon of Oct. 25. Brianna Stein told police that the robbery, which took place in the Court Street Market, was retribution for what had happened the day before when the couple had tried to buy drugs from the victim, according to court documents.
A surveillance video showed all three getting out of the car and going into the store after Brianna, Maxwell and the victim exchanged something in the car. Shortly after the three went into the store, Maxwell Stein was seen on the video abruptly exiting the store and getting back into the car.
“[The victim] is observed selecting a soda from the cooler,” the report said of what police saw on the surveillance tape. “As he does so, Brianna is observed running to the door. [The victim] runs after her. Brianna is then seen getting into the driver’s seat, [the victim] is seen running to the rear passenger side door and trying to open it. The door was locked and [the victim] is not able to get in. He is seen pulling on the door and yelling at them. The vehicle then backs out onto the road, dragging [the victim] along.”
The vehicle accelerated and then the brakes were slammed on, throwing the victim to the ground. The vehicle then drove away and was last seen heading out Ohio Street. The victim suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Eastern Maine Medical Center.
Shortly after 1:30 p.m. Oct. 25, a white Subaru Legacy was found by police on New Boston Road in Hermon, according to a dispatcher at the Penobscot Regional Communications Center. Both suspects were located inside the residence where the vehicle was parked.
Maxwell Stein was found hiding in the basement bathroom, according to a police report.
The theft, burglary and receiving stolen property charges stem from the alleged theft in September of more than $50,000 in merchandise from Maxwell Stein’s landlord in Holden to fuel Stein’s drug habit, according to Bangor Daily News archives.
If convicted on the most serious charge of robbery, each Stein could face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000. The couple also could be ordered to pay restitution if convicted on charges related to the burglary.
Pillars of the community….
very nice couple!
Please,PLEASE, don’t go forth and multiply!
Geez, i know. This is exactly what concerns me with young people like this that dont want to work for a living but would much rather rip people off or deal drugs to kids to get their money. What kind of future do these people actually have and what are they going to produce for future generations…Not much, i would think:(
21 years old and eyes as vacant as a health store on Skid row. The life just seems to be passing these young people by. Very sad, indeed.
Imagine a scale; on one end, the highest punishment allowable within our laws. The other end of the scale would be “do nothing.”
There is far more involved, but for my purposes, this scale will help convey what it is I am trying to inform to readers.
30 years is not a solution for tax payers, the victim, nor the criminals. It is — not — suggested that we go to the other end of the scale and do nothing.
It is suggested that at 35k to 45k per person/1 year in prison, that this, is a worst cost than welfare. These lengthy sentences will not reduce crime or robbery within our cities. The 2 criminals even if released in 15 years, chances are will be worse off and most likely still committing crime. 15 years * 35k (low estimate) * 2 = 1,050,000
Are these two criminals worth that much in rehabilitation? Are they rehabilitated? at 1 million dollars we would hope so. What are their chances at employment, education, services that people do not want to give them?
A solution, not sure, I could a spend life time researching and understanding the prisoner system in our western culture and still may not have the answers. I know one answer: giving these two 30 years in prison, does not help anyone.