Biddeford basketball player gets jail time for burglaries> Judge refuses delay in punishment to allow sports camp attendance

BIDDEFORD — A Thornton Academy basketball star who pleaded guilty to his part in two burglaries must spend a month in jail and repay more than $10,000 to his victims.

James Saccuzzo, 17, and his mother, Lynne Romano of Salem, N.H., broke into tears when the sentence was handed down Tuesday in District Court. Neither would comment when reporters approached them after the hearing.

Ignoring an agreement between the defense and the prosecution, Judge Jon Levy refused to allow Saccuzzo to delay the start of his jail term until Aug. 1 so that he could attend summer basketball camp.

“You don’t seem to fully appreciate the consequences,” said Levy, who chided Saccuzzo for his lack of remorse. “You’re quite focused on your basketball, but your future is much more connected to this situation than it is to how you play basketball.”

Levy ordered Saccuzzo to repay two Saco homeowners $10,640 for gold coins and cash stolen in burglaries last year on April 24 and Sept. 15. Saccuzzo, who pleaded guilty this past April, also was placed on probation for three years.

More than $6,000 in coins was taken in the April burglary at the home of Paul Cote in Saco. Five months later, Saccuzzo and at least two others broke into Norman Caron’s home and stole a safe containing $40,000.

One of the others, Jeffrey Nascimento, 18, is serving a year in jail. The other, Jeremy Bender, 17, was sent Tuesday to the York County Jail. His case is expected to be presented to a grand jury, after which a bail hearing would be held.

Levy said he hoped that the youth would realize his mistakes and get his life back on track through the jail time and mandatory alcohol and mental health counseling.

“You are fortunate in that you have a family that cares about you,” said Levy. “I truly, truly hope that we don’t see you back here.”

Because of the seriousness of the crimes, Saccuzzo was sentenced as an adult. Each charge carried a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Thornton Academy Headmaster Carl Stasio said Saccuzzo’s conviction will not affect his status as a student and basketball team member at the private high school.

School officials are deciding what, if any, changes to make in the policy about criminal activity and team membership, Stasio said. He noted that Thornton’s policies regarding use of drugs or alcohol by athletes are as strict as those of other schools.

“I think the policy needs to be fine-tuned, and schools and parents have to work together to establish reasonable boundaries,” Stasio said. “Obviously, this young man stepped beyond the bounds of the issues that most schools address in their policy statements.”