AUBURN — A husband and wife charged in a spree of burglaries last month were arrested again Thursday, accused of continuing to contact one another in violation of conditions set by the court.
Amanda Garland and Billie Jo Garland Submitted photo
Amanda Garland, 41, of 9 Eastman Lane, and Billie Jo Garland, 46, of 25 Sylvia St., were arrested by an Androscoggin County sheriff’s detective for the third time in less than three weeks.
The couple had originally been arrested in late April, accused in a string of burglaries that stretched across Androscoggin County and possibly beyond. After the original arrest, both suspects were released on bail, only to be arrested again May 12 when police found the couple together in a car.
According to police, during the May 12 incident, Billie Jo attempted to flee on foot but was captured a short distance away, in a parking lot near Amanda’s home.
After the second arrest, Amanda Garland was released once more, on $560 cash bail. Investigators said that in spite of the court order, she continued making contact with Billie Jo, even as he remained jailed.
By Thursday afternoon, both Garlands remained at the Androscoggin County Jail without bail, pending court hearings.
They and a third person were arrested April 27 and charged in connection with the burglary ring that has vexed the area since late winter.
The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating the break-ins, with police from Auburn and other departments, since March 2. On that day, in the overnight hours, East Auburn Baptist Church was broken into and cash and other items were stolen. Soon after, police began receiving reports of other business break-ins across three counties.
The Garlands face multiple counts of burglary and theft, among other charges. Amanda Garland was additionally charged with theft of a firearm reported to have been taken in one of the earlier burglaries.
Police from several jurisdictions have been continuing to investigate the burglaries, which have plagued multiple stores and other businesses.
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