ROCKLAND, Maine — A 37-year-old Warren man can return to his parents home after he completes a 60-day jail term for breaking into the home of a neighbor.
Matthew P. Jacoby was sentenced Monday in Knox County Superior Court by Justice Daniel Billings to two years in jail with all but 60 days suspended for burglary, stealing drugs and theft.
According to Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Baroody, the victims had noticed things missing from their home and suspected their neighbor’s son. The couple set up a camera and soon had him on tape going into their home and stealing money and prescription drugs, Baroody said.
The victims were at Monday’s hearing and, in a letter, asked the judge to bar Jacoby from continuing to live at his parents’ home upon his release from jail. The two homes are next to each other.
Defense attorney Jonathan Handelman said it was important for his client to live at his parents because they offer support as he receives counseling for mental health problems, including obsessive compulsive disorder.
The prosecutor pointed out that Jacoby had entered the victims’ home several times and that it was an extreme breach of trust.
Handelman had asked that Jacoby serve no jail time.
Billings said, however, that Jacoby violated the tenet of a house being someone’s castle. He said Jacoby took away the safety and security the homeowners should have in being in their home. He sentenced Jacoby to 60 days in jail, which was the cap agreed to between the defense and prosecution.
When police investigated, they seized $1,900 that was taken from the victims’ home.