LIVERMORE FALLS – Police returned a stolen, wooden cross to the Eaton Memorial United Methodist Church Monday.

It was brought back minus the photo of convicted murderer Charles Manson that had allegedly been taped on it after it was stolen.

The cross had been stolen last Tuesday from the church lawn and recovered early Saturday.

Officers Maurice Drouin and Terry Wheeler broke the case after a black shroud draped across the newly erected cross Friday was taken between patrols by the church. Rocks were also moved at the base of cross like someone had been trying to take that cross also, police said.

Four people were charged with theft of the shroud: Carl Harrington, 21, of Jay, Brian Harrington, 19, of Livermore, Misty Duval, 18, of Livermore Falls and a 16-year-old Livermore Falls girl.

Carl Harrington was charged with the theft of the original cross.

Drouin said the cross was found at Harrington’s Jay apartment.

It was hung sideways on the wall and used as a bookshelf, he said.

A picture of Manson was taped on the cross itself, Police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said, and a satanic book was resting on it as well as other paraphernalia.

Police took pictures, he said, and will forward the case to the Maine Attorney General’s Office for the hate bias civil rights department to review.

In addition to the Livermore Falls charges, Jay police officer Richard Caton IV charged Carl Harrington with furnishing a place for a minor to consume or possess alcohol, Jay officer Russell Adams said.

Harrington was also summoned on a civil charge of possession of a usable amount of marijuana, Adams said.
dperry@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link