AUGUSTA — A man sought by police in connection with thefts at Walmart in Farmington was in court on Monday in Kennebec County on a charge of failing to appear in court on three thefts that occurred at the Augusta Walmart.

Thomas John Mulkern Jr., 28, is accused of stealing two televisions and a TiVo belonging to the Augusta Walmart between March 2 and 7.

The complaint, filed in Kennebec County Superior Court, indicates the theft charges are felonies carrying up to five years in prison for each theft. It also lists two prior theft convictions against Mulkern.

Farmington police announced Thursday that they were seeking Mulkern, who also has an Augusta address in some court documents, and Angelia Carrigan, 37, of Jay.

Augusta police arrested them around 4:30 p.m. Friday after an employee at Walgreens notified police that the pair had stopped in and were expected to return, according to Sgt. Christian Behr. Police stopped their vehicle on Winthrop Street near Mount Hope Cemetery, Behr said. The two live in Jay, according to the Augusta police arrest record.

Both Mulkern and Carrigan made initial court appearances Monday afternoon via video link from the jail.

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Along with the three theft charges in Augusta, Mulkern was charged with failing to pay fines for a 2010 conviction in Waterville District Court and three 2010 convictions in Cumberland County District Court.

Mulkern is expected to appear later on new charges in Farmington District Court.

Carrigan was arrested on a charge of failing to pay a fine in West Bath District on a 2010 conviction for operating with license suspended or revoked.

She too is expected to appear later on new charges in Farmington District Court.

Mulkern previously was a key witness for the prosecution in the high-profile arson trial of Raymond Bellavance Jr., who burned down the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro in 2009.

Mulkern was granted immunity for testifying that he helped carry gasoline cans and watched Bellavance pour out the gas and then light the fire, which forced the owner and six family members, including two infants, to flee from their rooms at the former motel.

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Mulkern said he confessed to his role in the fire to clear his conscience. Mulkern also got immunity for his drug use, which he testified included injections of cocaine as well as other drugs. He completed a jail substance abuse rehabilitation program and was released in late December 2011.

A few days after testifying, Mulkern was arrested in Waterville and charged with theft, refusing to submit to detention and a probation hold after police responded to a report of stolen money from a house on High Street. Mulkern was wearing hospital scrubs at the time because he had been hospitalized the night before on suspicion of being under the influence of the designer drug bath salts.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @betadams


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