BANGOR, Maine — A Mattawamkeag man charged with stealing a truck with his younger brother and selling it as junk in October 2013 is facing new charges after he allegedly lied at his brother’s trial in December.
Joshua Ladd, 34, made his first appearance Friday at the Penobscot Judicial Center on one count each of perjury and violation of condition of release.
He was arrested Thursday after his brother, Jon Ladd, 32, of Medway was sentenced to four years in prison with all but 18 months suspended, followed by two years of probation, for his role in the theft of the truck, Penobscot County District Attorney R. Christopher Almy said Friday. He also was ordered to pay $750 in restitution to the owner for the value of the truck.
Ladd is to begin serving his sentence next week, according to Almy.
Joshua Ladd is being held without bail at the Penobscot County Jail until a hearing on a motion to revoke bail on the underlying theft charge can be held on June 4. If his bail is not revoked, he may post $1,000 cash bail and be released on the Class C perjury charge.
The brothers were indicted in January 2014 by the Penobscot County grand jury in connection with the Oct. 17, 2013, theft of a 1994 GMC pickup truck in East Millinocket, according to the affidavit that led to Ladd’s arrest Thursday. They had the truck towed to Ideal Recycling in Medway and sold it for $232.80.
The owner reported to police on Oct. 26, 2013, that the truck had been stolen. The reason for the delay in reporting the truck stolen is not explained in court documents.
The investigation led to the charges against the Ladds.
The brothers pleaded not guilty to the charge in February 2014 and were released on bail with a condition that they not commit new crimes.
Jon Ladd’s jury-waived trial before Superior Court Justice William Anderson began Sept. 30, 2014, and continued on Dec. 11, 2014, according to the affidavit. Joshua Ladd testified in December that he and another man, who spends winters in Florida, had stolen the truck, not his brother.
After the older brother testified, the trial was continued until Wednesday so witnesses could be called to rebut his testimony, the affidavit said. The man the older brother said stole the truck with him testified that he was not involved in the theft. The tow truck driver previously testified that both brothers were with the truck when he took it to Ideal Recycling. The business owner also told the judge the brothers were with the truck when he took possession of it.
If convicted of theft, Joshua Ladd faces the same penalty his brother did — up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. He also could be ordered to pay a portion of the restitution.
Ladd faces the same penalty on the perjury charge. He faces up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 on the violation of bail count.