Dedham burglaries trial begins for father, son

ELLSWORTH – A trial began Tuesday in Hancock County Superior Court for a father and son suspected of orchestrating a burglary ring in Dedham dating back to August 2006.

David O. Cook, 59, and Daniel O. Cook, 37, are both charged with two counts of Class B burglary along with several lesser charges. The older Cook also is charged with three counts of theft, one count of receiving stolen property and one count of aggravated forgery. The younger Cook faces three counts of Class C burglary, 14 counts of theft, three counts of criminal mischief and illegal possession of a firearm.

Their joint trial is expected to continue at least through today and into Thursday before a jury delivers a verdict, according to court officials.

The Cooks were arrested back in February, culminating a lengthy investigation by Hancock County Sheriff deputies. Also arrested were Christopher Cook, 18, who is David Cook’s grandson, and Christopher LaPointe, 21, an acquaintance who had been staying with the Cooks.

Over a five-month period, police logged reports of more than 30 burglaries at seasonal camps and homes on Phillips Lake in Dedham.

Many of the incidents involved the theft of copper pipe and wiring, which has become a frequent target as prices for the metal continue to increase significantly.

On Tuesday, Hancock County Assistant District Attorney Mary Kellett and defense attorneys Steven Juskewitch and Peter Bos delivered their opening statements.

Kellett told jurors that the case would be complicated and that its substance would come more from circumstantial rather than direct evidence.

Juskewitch and Bos both commented on that point in their opening arguments.

“The state has looked at a bunch of trees but not the forest,” Juskewitch said.

“The evidence will clearly show that the Cooks were not involved,” Bos added.

Kellett declined to comment on the case while it is still ongoing, but her key witness will likely be LaPointe. He is expected to testify that David Cook and Daniel Cook were the masterminds behind the burglary ring.

Juskewitch wasted no time Tuesday trying to discredit LaPointe. The defense attorney described him as a young man who was living in a shelter and someone who already had been in trouble with the law when he came to live with the Cooks.

LaPointe was the first person arrested in connection with the burglaries, and he is the reason police learned of the Cook family’s alleged involvement.

His charges are still pending and trial has been set, but it is likely he will agree to a plea deal in exchange for his testimony. The youngest Cook was a juvenile when he was initially charged, and the status of his case was uncertain Tuesday.

Police believe David Cook, who was the municipal clerk for the nearby town of Otis and sat on the planning board in Dedham, served as the driver for some of the burglaries.

Since his arrest, he has been placed on administrative leave in Otis, and selectmen in Dedham also have suspended his status on the planning board pending the outcome of any charges against him.

Eric Russell may be reached at erussell@bangordailynews.net or 664-0524.