AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine prosecutors have rested their case against a 50-year-old man charged with burning down a coffee shop that featured topless waitresses.
A witness who finished a drug rehabilitation program this week testified Friday that he was present when Raymond Bellavance Jr. poured and ignited gasoline behind the Grand View Coffee Shop in Vassalboro in the early morning hours of June 3, 2009. Thomas Mulkern said Bellavance then became upset, telling him they could get life in prison because there were people inside the adjoining apartments.
Prosecutors say Bellavance burned down the shop because he was angry with his ex-girlfriend, who worked there and had a relationship with the owner.
The Kennebec Journal (http://bit.ly/vkYv4M ) says the defense portion of the case is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning.
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