NORWAY – A man convicted of murder 16 years ago and arrested more recently for robbery was jailed again Tuesday.

Christopher G. Fitch, 35, of 262 Main St. in Norway, was charged with violation of conditions of release and illegal possession of hypodermic apparatuses. He remained at the Oxford County Jail on Wednesday afternoon.

According to an affidavit by officer Theron Bickford of the Norway Police Department, police responded to a verbal dispute around 2 p.m. Tuesday and found Fitch at a Main Street residence.

Chief Robert Federico said Fitch consented to a search of the residence, which revealed 13 hypodermic needles. He was also required to submit to a search as part of bail conditions out of Androscoggin County. Federico said three different powders were also found, along with residue on spoons. The materials are being tested to see if they are illegal drugs, he said.

Fitch is on bail conditions from Androscoggin County, where he was indicted in December on charges of robbery, trafficking in prison contraband, theft, assault, refusing to submit to arrest, and trafficking in dangerous knives.

Fitch is accused of attempting to steal a purse from an 85-year-old shopper in Wal-Mart in Auburn. Fitch was stopped by off-duty officer Ken Strout of the Lewiston Police Department and two citizens. According to the indictment, Fitch shoved a store clerk while attempting to flee and was found to be in possession of cocaine and a folding knife.

In 1992, Fitch was sentenced to serve five years of a 12-year sentence for the 1988 murder of 82-year-old Lucien Frechette of Norway. Fitch was released by 1996.

In Oxford County Superior Court on Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Joe O’Connor requested a $500 cash bail, saying that Fitch had posted a $50,000 surety bail on another charge.

Defense attorney Maurice Porter asked for unsecured bail, saying the residence that was searched was not Fitch’s address. He also said Fitch has no history of drug crimes or failing to appear in court.

O’Connor disputed the argument, saying that Fitch told police that the residence searched was “one of his addresses.”

Justice Robert E. Crowley set Fitch’s bail at $250 cash or $2,500 surety.