Farmington robbery, kidnapping suspect held on $30,000 bail

FARMINGTON — A Franklin County judge set bail at $30,000 Monday for a man tied to a Feb. 7 home invasion in Farmington.

Joshua Soucy Franklin County Detention Center photo

Joshua Soucy, 43, of Livermore Falls was arrested Friday on a warrant charging two counts of robbery, one count each of kidnapping, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, obstructing the report of a crime, and violation condition of release.

Appearing in the courtroom via Zoom, Assistant District Attorney Ellex St. Pierre asked the court to set bail at $30,000.

Soucy, who also appeared via Zoom, had been held in lieu of $50,000 bail at the Franklin County Detention Center in Farmington since his arrest Friday.

Also appearing via Zoom, Christopher Berryment, a defense attorney, said Soucy has no felony convictions. He asked for $500 bail. He asked Farmington District Court Judge Philip Mohlar if the state was considering bail close to what the state was recommending to make it real estate surety rather than cash. He said Soucy owns property.

St. Pierre said Jeromy Merchant, 43, of Livermore Falls, a co-defendant arrested Feb. 26, had bail of $50,000 for the home invasion, and shooting a gun in the air on Feb. 8. He is also being held a probation revocation charge.

Both men remained in jail Monday afternoon.

The state is concerned about public safety, St. Pierre said.

Mohlar said given the seriousness of the allegations and concerns for the public, he set bail at $30,000. He appointed attorney Jennifer Cohen to represent Soucy. Conditions of bail included no possession of dangerous weapons, especially firearms.

Soucy was out on bail when he was arrested stemming from a November 2023 arrest by Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office charging illegal possession of cocaine base-crack cocaine and illegal possession of another controlled substance.

Soucy and Merchant are accused of invading a Farmington man’s home late at night, tying him up, beating him and choking him with a gun, according to police. One man came to his door asking to use a phone because their vehicle ran out of gas. At the same time, the homeowner, armed with a shotgun, turned to see the reason for a noise was at the back door and the two men allegedly rushed him.

A coin collection, 17 firearms, new Play Station console, and other items were stolen, police said.

Farmington, Jay and Livermore Falls executed a search warrant Friday at 46 Cargill St. in Livermore Falls where Soucy lives in Apartment 4.

The man described the two men as tall and skinny with white complexions, and said he didn’t know them, according to a Farmington police affidavit.