Brothers face twin charges
Toolbox
By STEPHANIE M. PETERS Herald Staff - Published: December 31, 2008
Twin Wallingford brothers could be sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment each if convicted on identical charges of burglary and grand larceny in connection with the break-in and theft of a guitar and sports memorabilia from a West Rutland home.
Brandon C. and Cameron F. Lackey, 18, pleaded not guilty during their Monday arraignment to the two felony charges they each face in relation to the August incident.
It is alleged the brothers stole an Ibanez SRX guitar and autographed pictures of Whitey Ford, Greg Maddux, Ferguson Jenkins, Frank Thomas and Paul O'Neil, in total valued by the homeowner at $2,310, according to the charges and police affidavit.
According to the affidavit of Deputy Jason R. Allen of the Rutland County Sheriff's Department, on Aug. 22 he responded to a burglary complaint at 397 Clark Hill Road in West Rutland, where he was able to retrieve footprints and latent prints. In addition to the more than $2,000 in stolen property, the homeowner also reported $1,500 in vandalism to a retaining wall on the property.
On Aug. 26, the sheriff's department received a call from Chris King of Rutland Collectables reporting property he had received and believed to be stolen, according to the affidavit. According to a statement from King, he had been visited by the West Rutland homeowner shortly after the break-in, and when three kids came into his store with signed photos of Thomas, Jenkins and Maddux a few days later, he purchased them for $5 each as evidence, paid them with a check and got the name of Cameron Lackey and his phone number. King checked online later that day to find the check had been cashed as well, he said.
On Sept. 9, Lackey was contacted by phone and agreed to come to the sheriff's office later that afternoon. In a videotaped interview, Lackey originally told officers he found two of the pictures in a parking lot off Clarendon Avenue in West Rutland. Later in the interview, however, he admitted to committing the burglary and described breaking into the home, according to the affidavit. He also initially said he acted alone, but later said there were others involved "who he refused to identify," according to Allen's affidavit. After Lackey left, officers from the department went to his home to speak with Brandon Lackey, who denied involvement or even knowing of the incident.
The same day, Cameron Lackey returned to the sheriff's department with Paul Bassalin, 18, to return more of the merchandise, including the guitar and the signed pictures. Lackey also admitted that Bassalin had been involved in the incident, and while being interviewed Bassalin later admitted that he and the two brothers "had committed the burglary," according to the affidavit. Bassalin was also issued a citation for burglary and released.
Officers' subsequent attempts to contact Brandon Lackey were unsuccessful, and on Sept. 25 they were told by the brothers' mother that he had fled to Florida, was staying with friends and was expected to return in late November. About a month later, however, Lackey was found as the passenger in a vehicle Allen pulled over while on patrol in Wallingford, and he agreed to come to the sheriff's department for questioning in relation to the West Rutland burglary.
Although initially denying any involvement in the burglary, Lackey admitted in part when told of his brother's and Bassalin's confessions, according to Allen's affidavit.
The brothers are not being held, but have been ordered to avoid contact with the residents of the West Rutland home. They are both set to return to court Jan. 26 for a status conference.
Contact Stephanie M. Peters at stephanie.peters@rutlandherald.com.
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