AUGUSTA — A city man accused of robbing The Big Apple store on Stone Street on Monday night made an initial court appearance Friday, at which a judge set bail at $5,000.
Abraham C. Matt, 30, of Augusta, was arrested Wednesday after police reviewed surveillance video of the incident, which occurred about 11:40 p.m. Monday.
According to an affidavit by Augusta police Detective Jesse Brann, Matt “admitted he was a heavy narcotics user and that he had robbed the store to pay a drug debt.”
Matt had been held without bail before Friday’s hearing, which was held via video link between the jail and a courtroom at the Capital Judicial Center.
The suspect in Monday night’s robbery had been described as an unshaven dark-haired man wearing an Under Armour blue hooded sweatshirt, red pajama bottoms and black-and-yellow gloves. He entered the store, took a Moxie soda from the refrigerator,then demanded the clerk give him all the cash in the register.
The robber told the clerk he was serious and demanded she “hurry up,” Brann wrote in the affidavit.
The robber got about $90 in cash and exited on foot.
The clerk also said the man wore a scarflike item around his neck, possibly to cover tattoos.
The affidavit indicates no weapons were displayed. The robbery charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Matt, whose address is listed as “transient” on the robbery complaint, has previous convictions for burglary and theft in Waldo County. His most recent addresses are in Augusta and Whitefield.
He was held without bail until Friday’s court appearance.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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