Police link Medway pair to burglaries

EAST MILLINOCKET ? Two Medway residents were charged Wednesday with probation violations on suspicion of being part of a burglary ring that ransacked at least four houses in East Millinocket and Medway over the last several weeks.

Dean Lee Jr., 27, and Daisey Bates, 19, were charged with violation of probation in connection with a house burglary on Maple Street in East Millinocket and another house burglary on Route 116 in Medway.

They were being held without bail late Wednesday in the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor and are due in court today, officials said. They are expected to appear in 3rd District Court in Bangor.

Town police and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department detectives recovered several thousand dollars worth of stolen television sets, three rifles and a handgun, VCRs, loose cash and other household appliances during their investigation, East Millinocket police Chief Garold “Twig” Cramp said.

“They even stole a big-screen TV,” Cramp said Wednesday.

Investigators declined to say where they found the items.

Police believe that at least four people were involved in the daylight burglary ring that forced their way into houses in the Katahdin region and sold the stolen goods to pawn shops, including one in Patten, Cramp said.

Police suspect the thefts occurred because some of the suspects were paying for drug habits, Cramp said.

A juvenile also was charged in connection with two burglaries, and a grand jury indictment was handed down on May 2 in connection with these cases, Cramp said.

The grand jury indicted Jack G. Porter, 25, of East Millinocket, on two counts of burglary, three counts of theft and a single count of stealing drugs.

A tip from informants led police to the ring, Cramp said. Officer Andy York and Detective Bill Flagg of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department worked the case. Investigators also recovered some physical evidence that linked the suspects to the case, Cramp said.

On Feb. 2, 2004, Lee was sentenced to three years in prison with all but 18 months suspended and three years probation for receiving stolen snowmobiles and stolen snowmobile parts in 2002. He was convicted on three counts of receiving stolen property from three counties and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Lee, who pleaded guilty to the charges in 2003, also was ordered to pay more than $7,500 in restitution to the snowmobile owners.

Bates’ probation information was not immediately available on Wednesday.