Lang Township man indicted in Saddleback Mountain car burglaries

FARMINGTON — A Lang Township man was indicted Tuesday on charges of burglary and receiving stolen property related to car burglaries Feb. 1 at Saddleback Mountain in Sandy River Township.

A Franklin County grand jury indicted Matthew Lavoie, 24, of Lang Township and formerly of Lewiston, on three felony counts of receiving stolen property and one felony count of burglary of a motor vehicle. He also was indicted on one count each of misdemeanor burglary of a motor vehicle, misuse of identification and operation after suspension (priors).

Franklin County Deputy Nicholas Zecher responded to a series of car burglaries at the mountain and determined several items were removed from three cars, Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. previously said. The cars either had a window broken to gain access or they were unlocked.

While Zecher conducted an investigation, he found that an unknown man had attempted to use a debit card and credit card taken in the burglaries at a local convenience store, he said.

Zecher identified Lavoie as the person who used the card, he had said.

Deputies obtained a search warrant for Lavoie’s residence, searched it and discovered items taken from the burglarized cars, Nichols said. The items were recovered, he said.

Lavoie was on probation for a previous burglary at the time of the arrest.

A conviction on the felony charges carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

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