WISCASSET, Maine — A Waldoboro man will serve 18 months in prison and pay restitution for his role in a series of burglaries around Lincoln County last spring.
Cody L. Beal, 22, formerly of Damariscotta, pleaded guilty or no contest to six counts of Class B burglary, five counts of Class C theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, one count of Class D theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, and seven counts of Class E theft by unauthorized taking or transfer — a total of 19 crimes — at the Lincoln County Courthouse on Monday. The state dismissed another seven counts of Class B burglary.
Class B and C crimes are felonies; Class D and E crimes are misdemeanors.
Beal and Christopher S. Gove, 20, of Damariscotta, would steal cash — often loose change — and jewelry, according to court documents. The pair primarily targeted unlocked homes, as well as one storage unit, according to police.
The spree spanned eight towns — Alna, Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Jefferson, Newcastle, Nobleboro and South Bristol — and more than a month, from May 12 to June 14, 2015, according to court documents.
Gove’s case is pending. He faces a total of 37 charges.
Beal was sentenced to eight years in prison with all but 1½ years suspended, plus three years of probation, for one of the burglaries. He received lesser sentences for the other convictions, and will serve those sentences concurrently.
He has to pay $19,341 in restitution and another $545 in fines. His probation conditions prohibit contact with the victims, require him to pay restitution and fines, require substance-abuse treatment, and subject him to random searches and tests for drugs.
Gove would have to contribute to the restitution payments if convicted.
Beal and Gove’s arrests on June 12, 2015, were the result of a joint investigation by the Damariscotta Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office at the time of the arrests.
Detective Sgt. Ronald Rollins, Detectives Scott Hayden and Terry Michaud, Sgt. Matt Day and Deputy Ken Hatch investigated for the sheriff’s office. Sgt. Jason Warlick and Officers Jim Dotson, Erick Halpin and Kyle Sylvester investigated for Damariscotta.
Assistant District Attorney Katie Hollstrom is representing the state. Bath attorney David Paris represented Beal.
Gove’s case will return to court for a dispositional conference at 8:30 a.m. April 11.
Damariscotta attorney Edward Dardis is representing Gove. According to a motion by Dardis, “It is expected that a comprehensive plea agreement will be reached.”
Hollstrom said discussions about an agreement are ongoing, although “no plea offer has been made.”
Gove remains free on bail in the meantime. His bail conditions prohibit the possession or use of alcohol or illegal drugs and subject him to random searches and tests to ensure compliance.