WILTON — Police say they have arrested a Jay man in the theft of 50 half-gallons of maple syrup from a More Acres Road business. 

Brandon Hall, 24, a former employee of the business, was charged with theft and burglary Saturday at the Franklin County Detention Center, Wilton Police Chief Heidi Wilcox said.

Police recovered 17 of the containers of maple syrup. Other property belonging to the Wilton sap house was found Monday when police searched Hall’s residence. 

Hall was in jail on other theft charges when officer Ethan Kyes arrested him on the maple syrup charges.

The charge of theft is a Class C felony based on the value — $1,500 — of the maple syrup. A Class C burglary charge was bumped up to a Class B felony by the district attorney’s office based on Hall’s prior charges, Wilcox said.

A Class C conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $5,000. A Class B conviction is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of  up to $20,000.

As part of his investigation, Kyes talked with former employees of the sap house. Hall was a former employee and left on poor terms, she said.  

Apparently, Hall gave some of the maple syrup to friends, she said.

Wilton police were called Feb. 18. They believed someone had forced their way into the building within the past month, Wilcox said last week.

[email protected]