FARMINGTON — A Franklin County justice on Thursday revoked the probation of a 20-year-old man for his part in the theft of several vehicles from Farmington and Temple last fall.

Justice Michaela Murphy dismissed a burglary charge against Caleb Hupper, 20, of New Vineyard, in relation to a violation of probation but upheld charges of hindering apprehension and theft by unauthorized use of property against him.

Hupper has four-and-a-half years left on a 2008, six-year sentence for robbery and assault convictions, and about four years probation.

Hupper admitted to police that he was the driver of a Jeep on Oct. 19, 2009, and dropped off two men, first in Farmington to steal a truck and then Temple to steal two more vehicles that were expected to be used in a burglary at My Wife’s Place in New Vineyard, according to testimony and evidence presented Thursday.

Hupper also admitted to going to pick up Jacob Hastings, 20 at the time, of Augusta, after Hastings dropped off a stolen Avalanche vehicle at McDonald’s Restaurant in Farmington early on Oct. 20. He also admitted to going to Strong to pick up Robert Lacroix, 22, of Winslow, later that day in Strong, after both men called for rides.

Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies testified Thursday in Franklin County Superior Court during Hupper’s probation revocation hearing.

State Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson played a voice recording of Deputy Ken Charles’ second interview with Hupper. He also showed the video taken by a cruiser digital video camera when Hupper rode along with Charles in Temple to point out where vehicles were stolen and events leading up to him ditching the Jeep he was driving and taking off into the woods.

Hastings, Lacroix, Hupper and another man concocted a plan to go to Temple, a rural town where people most likely leave keys in their vehicles, to steal a vehicle to drive to a New Vineyard store, break-in and steal a safe and bring it back to West Farmington residence where the safe would be opened, Robinson told the court.

Hastings had just gotten out of prison and needed money, according to testimony.

However those plans went awry early on, and in the end, that particular burglary didn’t happen, he said. Instead five vehicles were stolen and Hastings went on to break-in to Rick’s Market in Wilton.

Hupper’s attorney, Ronald Cullenberg, said his client ended up in West Farmington after a dispute with his girlfriend. He said Hupper was intimidated by Hastings, who has a lengthy criminal history, and didn’t want to get beat up, so went along with the plan.

Hupper had met Hastings in prison while Hupper was serving 18 months for the robbery and beating of a University of Maine at Farmington student on Dec. 7, 2007, in Farmington. Cullenberg said Hupper was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Evidence showed that Hupper had parted ways after he dropped the two off at an Intervale Road home in Temple where a Jeep, not the one Hupper had been driving, and a van were stolen from a yard. Both those vehicles ended up in accidents including one that hit a Wilton police cruiser, injuring an officer, trying to stop the men.

Hupper admitted to being involved in three of the vehicle thefts by being the one who drove the vehicle that dropped the two men off. The first vehicle stolen, a truck, broke down and Hupper picked the men up and brought them to the Intervale Road residence.

Murphy will hold another probation violation hearing for Hupper on Thursday, March 4, before she issues a sentence on the cases.

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