Teen charged in robbery held at youth center

BANGOR – The 17-year-old charged with robbing a local drugstore earlier this week will remain at Mountain View Youth Development Center in Charleston until his case is resolved, a District Court judge ruled Friday.

Ezra Fitzherbert, whose hometown was not released, is charged with Class B robbery of the Rite Aid Pharmacy at Third and Union streets in Bangor at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

He allegedly demanded cash from the clerk behind the counter, according to police. Police and prosecutors declined to disclose how much money was taken.

No one was hurt in the robbery, but police reported that Fitzherbert hid his finger under his coat, implying he had a weapon.

Assistant District Attorney James Aucoin said Friday that he is evaluating whether to ask the court to try Fitzherbert as an adult.

Fitzherbert had been living at a group home in a West Side neighborhood not far from the pharmacy, according to Aucoin.

If convicted as an adult, he faces up to 10 years in an adult prison and a fine of up to $20,000. If convicted as a juvenile, he could be sentenced to stay at the youth center until he turns 21.

Last year, several juveniles facing felony charges in Penobscot County agreed to be treated as adults because they faced less time in adult prison than they would if incarcerated at a juvenile facility until their 21st birthdays.

Fitzherbert was captured quickly Tuesday afternoon because a Bangor woman called police when she realized the store was being robbed as she tried to enter it. When Fitzherbert allegedly left the store, the woman followed the suspect in her car while talking to law enforcement officials on her cell phone.