September 21, 2024
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Man sentenced in WCTC computer theft

CALAIS – A Delaware man who broke into a Down East college in April was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison with all but 14 days suspended in the theft of $10,000 worth of computer equipment that wound up at the University of Maine in Orono.

Alexander Kaznica, 19, of Adams Run, Del., entered a guilty plea in 4th District Court in Calais.

He was placed on two years probation and ordered to pay $5,245 in restitution to Washington County Technical College, Assistant District Attorney Richard McNamara said Tuesday. Donald F. Brown of Bangor represented Kaznica

The college’s name was changed earlier this month to Washington County Community College.

Two other men, Justin Yates, then 20, of Rumford and Richard Powell, then 19, of Peru also were charged with burglary and theft in connection with the April 28 break-in. Their cases are pending.

The three were accused of stealing computer equipment valued at more than $10,000 from the college. The computers were later recovered at UM.

One hundred pieces of computer equipment were taken in the break-in in the main administration and classroom building on U.S. Route 1.

Calais police said at the time that the three were believed to be acquaintances and students at the college. Chris Donahue of the Calais Police Department and his dog Major followed the scent from the break-in to dormitories just above the main building.

While they were investigating the burglary, police received a telephone call from agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency in Bangor who said they had received information that a person on the technical college campus was involved in the break-in.

MDEA officials and a detective from the University of Maine discovered the computer equipment at the Orono campus.

Calais police said later that they believed all of the computer equipment had been recovered.


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