BANGOR, Maine — Two local men suspected of being part of a burglary ring that executed nighttime break-ins at homes in Bangor, Veazie and Orrington earlier this month made their first appearances before a judge Tuesday at the Penobscot Judicial Center.
William Cushman, 22, of Brewer and Randall Cressey, 23, of Hampden each are charged with one count of Class B burglary and Class C theft in separate break-ins. Cushman also is charged with Class B theft in connection with a break-in the night of April 10 and 11 at a home in Veazie in which a firearm, which has been recovered, was stolen.
Cressey was charged in connection with an Orrington burglary the night of April 11 and 12, according to the Penobscot County District Attorney’s Office. He allegedly stole two large containers of change then redeemed it, with the help of other suspects, for $176 in bills at a Bangor grocery store.
The men, who were arrested Friday, were not asked to enter pleas because they have not yet been indicted by a Penobscot County grand jury.
The men are scheduled to appear in court again on June 10.
District Court Judge Bruce Jordan set bail at $25,000 cash for each defendant — the amount recommended by the prosecutor due to the nature of the crimes and the men’s criminal histories.
“It is an extremely dangerous person who will take the risk to commit this kind of crime — breaking into homes in the middle of the night,” Jordan said in setting the high cash bail. “Twenty-five thousand dollars is very reasonable.”
Bail conditions include the men not having contact with each other and three others whom Stephen Burlock, assistant district attorney for Penobscot County, described as suspects in the case.
One of them, Courtney Braley, 18, of Bangor, was arrested with Cushman and Cressey but has not been formally charged by the district attorney’s office. The Bangor Daily News is not naming the others because they have not yet been arrested.
Braley is Cressey’s girlfriend and is five months pregnant, according to Joe Belisle, who acted as his attorney Tuesday.
The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday, when it announced that Cushman and Cressey had been arrested, that it expected more charges would be filed against the men and that other arrests were expected.
If convicted, the men face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000 on the Class B charges. They face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000 on the Class C crimes. They also could be ordered to pay restitution to victims.