AUGUSTA — A Belgrade woman pleaded guilty Friday to robbery in a case where she stole a woman’s purse with a wallet from a shopping cart at the Augusta Walmart and the victim stopped her and succeeded in getting it returned.
Along with the July 1 robbery, Audra L. Purington, 37, pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including theft by unauthorized taking for stealing a wallet on June 28 and violating conditions of release June 28-July 1, all in Augusta.
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A robbery charge was dismissed Friday against a man who was with her at the time the wallet was taken, William K. Seabron, 23, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., and now of Augusta. The dismissal came just before jurye selection in the two trials in Kennebec County Superior Court.
“We have the robbery on tape,” said District Attorney Maeghan Maloney. “What you see on the tape is when the victim holds onto her purse and Audra tries to take it away. You see William Seabron trying to get Audra to leave. What’s not clear is whether he’s trying to get her to leave with the purse or without it.”
Seabron’s attorney, Stephen Bourget, said Seabron’s robbery charge was dismissed because “the facts did not support him being part of the robbery. The district attorney saw that at jury selection.”
Bourget said his client was at the store with Purington. “There was an argument over a purse, and he went to Audra’s aid,” Bourget said. “When he found out what was going on, he left.”
Purington also pleaded guilty to charges of criminal threatening, assault and terrorizing charges that occurred Feb. 7-9, 2014, in Augusta in which she threatened a woman with a knife.
Purington’s attorney, Scott Lynch, said Friday that the judge was told that his client “had a rough patch of road” for about 18 months, including some December 2013 drug trafficking charges in York County. “Before this she had a relatively insignificant criminal record,” Lynch said.
Purington’s case was continued for sentencing so the York County charges can be handled at the same time.
Lynch said the defense and prosecution agreed to recommend a sentence of eight years in prison with all but two years suspended and four years’ probation on all the charges. The sentencing agreement also includes an order for $5,600 in restitution.
Police said the robbery involving the wallet was part of a series of wallet and purse snatches that occurred last summer in which culprits targeted older women and then used the stolen credit and debit cards to go shopping themselves, making purchases at Walmart, T.J. Maxx and Wendy’s in Augusta. Five incidents of stolen purses were reported at the Augusta Walmart June 28-July 5.
Seabron pleaded guilty to other charges, including June 29 misuse of identification and theft by unauthorized taking as well as July 16 unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, and another count of theft by unauthorized taking. He also agreed to a criminal forfeiture of $835 cash.
He was sentenced to 364 days in jail with all but five months suspended and one year probation. He was fined $1,000.
Bourget said that since Seabron had spent five months in jail on the pending charges, he was released on Friday.
Also sentenced Friday morning in Kennebec County Superior Court:
• Antelsy May Bellows, 36, of Waterville, unlawful possession of hydrocodone Aug. 30, 2013, in Waterville; violating of condition of release, possession of hypodermics and unlawful possession of scheduled drug Aug. 16, in Waterville; 24-month jail sentence, all but 30 days suspended, two years’ probation, $1,200 in fines.
• Christopher D. Brown, 28, of Wayne operating under the influence and motor vehicle speeding 30-plus mph over the speed limit March 16, in Wayne; $800 fine, 150-day license suspension.
• Scott F. Grant. 32, of Augusta, escape and violating conditions of release May 30, 2013, in Augusta; four-year prison sentence, all suspended, two years’ probation, $1,000 fine, all suspended; domestic violence assault March 4, 2013, three-year prison sentence, concurrent to a 42-month probation revocation.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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