AUGUSTA — A Farmingdale man has been arrested in connection with an armed home invasion that occurred Jan. 10 on Pond Road in Manchester in which the intruders demanded money and marijuana.
Joshua Lemar, 33, remained behind bars Monday at the Kennebec County jail. He is charged with robbery, criminal restraint, theft by unauthorized taking and theft by unauthorized use.
While a warrant for Lemar’s arrest carried a $100,000 bail amount, a judge on Friday set bail at $5,000 cash following Lemar’s initial appearance at the Capital Judicial Center via video from the jail.
According to an affidavit by Maine State Trooper Randy Hall, the victims, a couple in their 40s, said two men and a woman “armed with a shotgun, a box cutter knife, and a gas can, came into their home through the front door.”
One intruder aimed the gun at the male occupant and then at the woman, tying them up with an extension cord and rope.
The victims said the intruders asked for money and a safe prior to taking the cash from the victims’ wallets, two cellphones and a camera and smashing the woman’s laptop before stealing her Honda CRV. It also said the male intruders called each other by their first names, Josh and Jake. It does not appear that anyone else has been charged in connection with the case.
The male occupant was taken to the basement where the intruders “threatened to smash his head in with his own hammer if he didn’t tell them where the money and safe were.”
At one point in the affidavit, investigating troopers indicate they don’t believe the victims are telling the whole story.
The evidence response team then processed the victim’s vehicle, finding marijuana leaves on the passenger side floor.
The next day, after obtaining cellphone records and other information, police again interviewed the victims who said that the intruders knew the harvest season had just ended and they wanted the marijuana stash.
The male victim said the intruders took away a pound of marijuana after putting it in a white trash bag.
The male victim also said he had told Lemar about the marijuana grow when Lemar had been at the home previously.
Cellphone texting records indicated that after the home invasion, Lemar attempted to sell the marijuana for $100 an ounce.
The arrest affidavit indicates Lemar was on probation at the time of the home invasion.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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