Sangerville man sentenced in burglaries

DOVER-FOXCROFT – The second of three men who left their disabled vehicle and sneaker tracks behind during a spate of break-ins earlier this winter was sentenced Monday in 13th District Court.

Joshua Nickerson, 26, of Sangerville, who pleaded guilty earlier, was sentenced to one year to the Department of Corrections on six counts of burglary and was sentenced to 30 days concurrent on one count of violation of conditions of release.

Gabriel Sanchez, 22, of Dexter pleaded guilty last month in 13th District Court to six counts of burglary. He was sentenced on two of the six counts to a total of 21/2 years to the Department of Corrections with all but six months suspended. He was sentenced to 120 days on each of the remaining counts, with all to be served concurrently. He also was placed on probation for two years.

The trial of Clay Pelkey, 18, of Sangerville, who also was implicated in the burglaries, is continuing.

Police say the three men broke into the Monson Transfer Station, the Guilford Town Garage, Harry’s Garage in Abbot, Tim’s Car Care in Guilford, a garage owned by Bud and Patricia Merrill in Blanchard, and Department of Transportation garages in Monson and Guilford. Telephone lines were cut to those places that had service.

A window was smashed at the Guilford Town Garage, where a chain saw, a metal money box and an electrical cord were reported missing.

A car stereo was taken from Tim’s Car Care, and an arc welder was taken from the Merrills’ garage.

At the DOT garage in Guilford, the burglars encountered problems. After taking the handles of acetylene torches and preparing to remove oxygen and acetylene tanks, they discovered that their vehicle wouldn’t start, according to police reports. The burglars left the torches and oxygen tanks behind and, in the confusion, lost the keys to the car in the snow, police said.

Footprints around the disabled vehicle matched footprints found at the six break-ins, according to police.

The registration of the vehicle, which was impounded, led police to the Grant Road home of Laura McAlpine where all three men reportedly were staying at the time. The three were arrested without incident. McAlpine and two other women living at the home were not arrested or charged, according to police. All of the stolen items were recovered at McAlpine’s home, police said.