AUGUSTA — Caught in the act of burglarizing vehicles in the owner’s driveway in Vassalboro, Anthony Lee Mann fled to his pickup truck and sped past that same driveway as the homeowner ran outdoors.

Seconds later, Mann’s pickup crashed into a large pine tree, trapping him inside the truck.

There he was found, bleeding and screaming, by the homeowner who had driven down the lane to try to see which direction the burglar had taken on U.S. Route 201.

And it was that homeowner who called 911 for help at 12:33 a.m. on Sept. 29.

The details of the burglary and crash are spelled out in a court affidavit filed by Kennebec Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Moody. Mann also stole frozen chicken nuggets and french fries, a 30-pack of Bud Light, footwear and a new set of golf clubs from other homes on Sherwood Lane in Vassalboro, according to the affidavit.

Mann, 20, of Clinton, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Kennebec County Superior Court to two counts of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, and one count each of burglary, burglary of a motor vehicle, operating after suspension and violating condition of release, all of which occurred on Sept. 29 in Vassalboro.

He was sentenced to three years in jail with all but six months suspended and two years of probation, and fined $250. A condition of probation bans him from Vassalboro.

All the stolen items were recovered by sheriff’s deputies who found them in the cab of Mann’s pickup and alongside Sherwood Lane mailboxes. Mann apparently planned to collect them as he drove back out the dead-end road.

Moody’s affidavit says it took rescue workers half an hour to extricate Mann from the crumpled pickup. Later, at the hospital, Mann was treated for a broken arm and broken jaw.

When deputies interviewed Mann at the sheriff’s office a week later, he denied burglarizing the homes and vehicles, and said he had been in the area dropping off his girlfriend at her home on U.S. Route 201. He later admitted breaking into vehicles looking for cash, but denied entering homes and stealing items from freezers, police said.

Mann reportedly returned to the crash scene on Oct. 3, and one Sherwood Lane resident told him to stay away because people knew he was a thief.

Mann threatened to return with a firearm, according to Moody’s affidavit, and he was arrested Oct. 6. At that time, he was also charged with terrorizing and violating a condition of release for the Oct. 3 incident.

Those charges were later dismissed in exchange for the guilty plea to the other charges.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

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