WILTON – A Jay man was indicted for burglary and felony theft by the Franklin County grand jury Thursday, with the state alleging he stole $1,500 worth of maple syrup from a local sugar shack.
Brandon Hall, 24, of Jay, was indicted on one count of burglary, a Class B felony due to prior convictions for same, and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, elevated to a Class C felony due to prior convictions.
On Feb. 18, a maple syrup producer reported to police that his sugar shack had been broken into and 50 half-gallon containers of maple syrup had been taken. At some point earlier in the month the sugar shack, located in a secluded wooded area, had been broken into and the syrup was taken, according to Police Chief Heidi Wilcox.
Officer Ethan Kyes investigated and eventually was led to Hall, who was reportedly a former employee at the maple syrup operation. Seventeen containers of maple syrup were recovered by police. Additional evidence was reportedly recovered from Hall’s residence in Jay after it was searched by Wilton and Jay police.
An indictment means that after considering the evidence a district attorney has presented, a grand jury believes there is probable cause, or a “reasonable belief” that the crime occurred. A grand jury of up to 23 people need not be unanimous and does not need to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted he should be made to collect by hand and process the missing 33 containers.
$1,500. I think that equates to 15 minutes hard time in Franklin County. (During which time he will get two meals and a physical exam.)
What a sap!
We always say how criminals are lazy. Not this one. Maple syrup weighs 11 pounds/gallon, so each container weighed 5.5 pounds! In total; 275 pounds, and not really that portable. He is in a sticky situation. Maybe he can plead he’s addicted to pancakes, and the Judge will go light on him?
We know the courts won’t punish him but there’s always the he’ll get diabetes.
Must have been good stuff if he thought he had to steal it.Where can I buy some?. What looser to steal someone’s hard earned profit.
This sounds good enough to make “America’s Dumbest Criminals” show.
Well, I-Hop that he butters up the jury at his trial. Waffling about the facts can get you into a sticky situation. If he’s hired a good mouth piece who knows which way the sap runs and can get them boiling over with sympathy he might just tap out. If not then he’ll fall flat as a pancake and spend some time in the bucket.