NEW VINEYARD — A local man was charged Wednesday after he told a police officer he took someone’s car and crashed it, police said.

Damien Lee, 19, of New Vineyard was also accused of stealing an undisclosed amount of money and alcohol from New Vineyard residents who allowed him to stay at their home while they were away, Franklin County Sheriff’s Lt. Niles Yeaton said Wednesday.

Lee initially turned himself in to Livermore Falls police officer Steve Wilkinson on Tuesday night, telling him he took a car and crashed it, Livermore Falls Police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said Wednesday.

After talking with Lee, Wilkinson detained him and contacted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department to come get him, Steward said.

Sheriff’s Cpl. Ken Charles conducted an investigation and interviewed Lee on Wednesday and then arrested him on a charge of violating condition of release, Yeaton said. He also issued summonses for additional misdemeanor charges of unauthorized taking of property, theft by unauthorized taking, operating without a license and leaving the scene of a property damage accident, Yeaton said.

The victim had left Lee at the residence alone on Monday and returned Tuesday to find the 2000 Volkswagen damaged, he said.

Lee told Charles he crashed the car on Taylor Hill Road in New Vineyard, Yeaton said.

Lee was out on bail on a delayed sentencing agreement, he said. If he met the terms of the agreement, he would be able to withdraw the plea and face a lesser charge or have the charge dismissed, filed or discharged.

[email protected]