ELLSWORTH – A local man whose mother pleaded guilty in January to stealing her neighbors’ belongings last year was convicted Thursday of the same crime and sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Aaron Stoeckel, 21, was found guilty of burglary by Justice Nancy Mills in a nonjury trial in Hancock County Superior Court.

Stoeckel had claimed that his mother, Kim Stoeckel, told him that she had been given the items by a neighbor who was not an American citizen and who had to flee the country, Hancock County Deputy District Attorney Carletta Bassano told the judge.

According to police, the man whose apartment was robbed called police after he saw snowy footprints leading from his home to Kim Stoeckel’s back door and saw his curtains hanging in her window. Several thousand dollars’ worth of furniture and electronic equipment also had been stolen, police said at the time.

Kim Stoeckel pleaded guilty to the burglary in January and received an 18-month prison sentence.

Aaron Stoeckel’s attorney, Steven Juskewitch of Ellsworth, told Mills that his client panicked and then lied to police when officers showed up at his mother’s apartment the day after the burglary. He said Aaron Stoeckel simply thought he was helping his mother with her gifts when he removed the property from the neighboring apartment.

“I don’t believe there’s any evidence of intent [to commit a crime] at the time he entered the apartment,” the defense attorney said.

Juskewitch declined further comment after the proceeding.

Bassano told Mills that Aaron Stoeckel’s behavior indicated he knew he had done something wrong. Stoeckel lied to police and then tried to hide some of the stolen goods, most of which have been recovered, she said.

“His actions speak far louder than his words today, your honor,” the prosecutor said.

Bassano said after the proceeding that 30 days with probation is more typical than the sentence Stoeckel received, which does not include any probation.

“I didn’t really have an expectation” of how long Stoeckel should spend behind bars, she said.

The judge, in finding Stoeckel guilty, indicated she did not find his testimony credible. She also ordered Stoeckel to pay $350 in restitution for stolen clothing and baseball cards that have not been recovered.

Stoeckel, who was sentenced immediately after the trial, told the judge he takes medication for mental disorders and that he finds work by helping his girlfriend’s relatives with various jobs.

Mills noted that Stoeckel, an expectant father, should be able to complete his sentence by the time his girlfriend is due to give birth on April 16.

Stoeckel was led to Hancock County Jail to begin serving his jail term.