AUGUSTA — A man who ripped copper piping from unoccupied houses and construction sites will spend 18 months behind bars and repay more than $66,000 in damage.

James E. Roderick, 24, of Randolph was sentenced Monday in Kennebec County Superior Court to five years in prison, with all but 18 months suspended and three years’ probation.

He pleaded guilty Oct. 4 to seven counts of burglary, 10 counts of theft by unauthorized taking, four counts of aggravated criminal mischief and one count of violation of condition of release.

The crimes occurred between Jan. 26 and June 12 throughout Kennebec County, including Chelsea, Randolph, Belgrade, Sidney, Farmingdale, Hallowell and Waterville.

Along with private homeowners, victims included the town of Chelsea, Steve’s Applicance, Norris Preble Co., Arthur Dudley Construction and the Hallowell Water District. Court records indicate one of the victims claimed $47,000 in damage.

Roderick blamed those actions — and similar offenses for which he was sentenced in June — on drugs.

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“Your honor, I’m at a loss for words,” Roderick said in court. “I regret everything that has happened. Never in my right mind would I have done anything like this. Addiction to Oxycodone took over my life.”

Roderick’s attorney, Stephen Bourget, said the offenses Roderick was sentenced for in June were all part of the same scheme, and that the investigation later revealed the other offenses.

“Mr. Roderick, once caught, was cooperative and pointed out places that were broken into,” said the prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney James Mitchell Jr.

The new sentence is to run concurrent with the June sentence, which was four years in prison with all but six months suspended and two years’ probation. Roderick was ordered to pay $1,478 in restitution for those crimes.

The same 21 offenses Roderick was convicted of are pending against Joel Dennis Lachance, 42, of Randolph.

In court on Monday, Mitchell said Roderick’s role was primarily as driver, and Lachance went inside the buildings.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com


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