UMaine student charged with computer, art theft

ORONO – A student and part-time employee of the University of Maine was arrested and charged with felony theft after university police recovered $12,509 worth of computer equipment and art from his apartment Thursday afternoon.

Matthew Rivard, 22, was charged with theft by unauthorized taking, a Class C felony. Rivard is expected to appear in 3rd District Court in Bangor on June 14, according to Chief Noel March, director of the UMaine Department of Public Safety.

Rivard was an employee of the Computer Connection, the university’s retail computer store in the Memorial Union. In February, university police were notified of missing computers and accessories from the basement of Lord Hall, which serves as a warehouse for the Computer Connection, March said.

Ironically, it was technology that led police to identify Rivard and obtain a warrant. With the help of the university’s information technologies department, police were able to set up hidden video surveillance in the warehouse, March said.

“The use of cameras and computers as a tool of law enforcement did the trick,” March said.

Around 3:20 p.m. on Thursday, Detective Chris Gardner and Officer William Mitchell led university and Orono police on a search of Rivard’s apartment in Stillwater Village. Police recovered three laptops, three iMacs, a printer, an MP3 player, two personal desktop assistants and various computer software and accessories.

Police also recovered a single painting entitled, “Dr. Bibber’s Backyard.” Part of the university collection and on loan to Shibles Hall, the painting is valued at $325.

“The partnership between the university police and university staff was the key point in bringing this case to a close,” March said.

Rivard, originally of Brunswick, was arrested and transported without incident to Penobscot County Jail Thursday afternoon where he was released after paying the bail of $300. It wasn’t known whether Rivard had a prior arrest record.

Since the amount of stolen property is more than $10,000, the District Attorney’s Office could upgrade the crime to a class B felony, March said. The district attorney will also decide whether the case will go before a grand jury.

Police are expecting to recover three additional items totaling less than $775, March said. He added that the crime is still under investigation and more charges could be forthcoming.