BANGOR, Maine — The local man charged with a series of recent residential burglaries in the city entered the homes through unlocked basement windows and took only cash, while his girlfriend drove him from one neighborhood to another, according to documents filed Monday at the Penobscot Judicial Center.
Nathan J. Paulette, 28, and Chelsea Davis, 26, both of Bangor made their first court appearances Monday afternoon on burglary and theft charges at the Penobscot Judicial Center. Neither was asked to enter pleas to the felony burglary and misdemeanor theft charges because they have not yet been indicted by the Penobscot County grand jury.
The seven-page affidavit outlined the modus operandi of the couple, who allegedly used the cash they took to buy methadone and other drugs.
The investigation that led to their arrest began in August with reports of burglaries and thefts as well as failed attempts to enter homes and entrances into residences with reports of nothing being taken, the affidavit said. The burglar entered through an unlocked basement window, often cutting out a screen first.
“Items are typically moved from the window sill to make room for the suspect entering the window and then placed back in a similar fashion to avoid detection,” the affidavit said. “Once inside, the suspect in most cases has exited through a door and in some cases unlocked multiple doors in the home.
“Victims of these crimes have only reported a loss of cash or coins currently ranging from $20 to $1,000,” the document said. “Victims in a majority of the cases have commented on the fact [that] jewelry, electronics, and credit/debit cards have been left untouched.”
So far, they have been charged with burglaries reported to Bangor police between Nov. 19 and Thursday, according to court documents. Both could face additional charges.
They were arrested early on Thursday after a homeowner on the city’s west side called police about 4 a.m. to report that her dog was growling and she could hear someone on the first floor of the house. On the other side of Bangor, police sighted the car Davis was driving, in which Paulette was a passenger, on Center Street. Police stopped the car, which is owned by a relative of Paulette’s, at 14th and Ohio streets.
Davis and Paulette were taken to the Bangor police station for questioning, the affidavit said. She allegedly described Paulette’s method of breaking into the houses as the one police had observed in their investigation.
She also said that Paulette “would not scout homes and would simply walk down the street and check to see if the windows were locked,” the affidavit said. “Davis said Paulette never broke anything and if the window was locked, he would move on to the next house.”
Paulette and Davis remained Monday night at the Penobscot County Jail unable to post bail. He is charged with six counts of burglary and two counts of theft, including an alleged break-in in November and five in December, according to court documents. Davis is charged with five counts of burglary and two counts of theft in connection with break-ins reported in December.
District Court Judge Bruce Jordan on Monday set bail at $15,000 cash for Paulette and at $2,500 cash for Davis. Conditions include no contact with each other or the victims and no use of drugs or alcohol and testing for their use.
Both defendants are due to appear before a judge again on Feb. 3.
If convicted, each face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000 on the burglary charges. The also could be ordered to pay restitution.