Trial begins for Corinna man accused of theft

A Corinna man went on trial Wednesday before a Bangor jury for allegedly helping to steal more than $2,000 from a laundry last summer.

The trial of Edgar Paradis, 45, began in Penobscot County Superior Court, where the day before, a woman was sentenced for her involvement in the theft.

Paradis and his then-girlfriend, Candice Niski, 22, also of Corinna, were implicated in the June 26 theft from Gold Star Cleaners in Bangor by Holly Russell, who worked at the laundry.

Russell, who was responsible for closing the laundry, admitted to police the next day that she had taken the money along with two other people, whom she identified as Niski and Paradis.

The store manager, Gail Nadeau, testified under questioning by District Attorney R. Christopher Almy that when she arrived at work the morning of June 26, she found that the door to the store had been left unlocked and that the alarm system had not been set.

Joseph Walsh, Paradis’ attorney, questioned Nadeau about access to the store and about the amount of money taken. Nadeau said that all employees had keys to the establishment. She based her estimate of the amount of money taken, she said, on the amount usually kept in the store coupled with expected sales receipts. She said she was uncertain of the exact amount stolen, but that it was at least $1,000.

Russell, 19, of Cardville, pleaded guilty in November and on Tuesday received a nine-month jail term. Niski, who worked briefly at the laundry, also has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

The trial is expected to continue Thursday.