RutlandHerald.com - We Are Vermont

Charity theft suspect arrested



A new collection jar for the Rutland County Humane Society at the Mobil Station in Fair Haven on Monday bears a note on it reading, "Smile, you're on camera!"

CASSANDRA HOTALING / RUTLAND HERALD
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By Brent Curtis STAFF WRITER - Published: May 19, 2009

Homeless pets almost lost a little bit more last week when a Fair Haven man allegedly stole — and was later caught with — a donation jar for the Rutland County Humane Society.

Fair Haven Police say Nicholas E. Sargent, 28, swiped a plastic pup-shaped donation jar from the Main Street Dunkin' Donuts counter last week.

But the pup was back on its perch in front of a rack of coffee cups on Monday after employees at the store went back through hours of store surveillance video to find out what happened to the donation jar.

"They noticed Thursday morning it was missing so they went back and figured out it was taken Wednesday evening by a man they recognized as a regular customer," Fair Haven Police Chief William Humphries said. "I hammered him hard about stealing from animals … It's about the lowest you can go."

Humphries said Sargent admitted to taking the jar and he handed over about $10 in cash and change that he said was inside. The amount Sargent returned was significantly less than the $40 that clerks at the store estimated was inside.

Sargent was charged with petty larceny and was issued a citation to appear in Rutland District Court to answer to the charge.

The donation jars, commonly seen in stores around the county, are significant revenue generators for the Rutland County Humane Society, according to the shelter's executive director, Gretchen Goodman.

"They pay for about half of our annual veterinarian care," she said. "And kids can feel like they're contributing by putting coins in the jars. It's a good way to get them started early with caring about animals."

Thefts of animal shelter jars are rare, but not unheard of with about one jar stolen on average each year. The theft in Fair Haven was actually the second of its kind for the shelter this year, Goodman said.

But none of the prior thefts has been solved, making the Fair Haven case a first, she said.

"I think it's a good ending. It sends the message that these thefts will be treated like that crime that it is," Goodman said.

brent.curtis@rutlandherald.com








READER COMMENTS


It's extremely irresponsible that you don't have any type of insurance coverage for your daughter. If she really was prescribed medicine for the flu (which is a virus unaffected by antibiotics) then it could have been covered by Dr. Dynasaur or medicaid. If you wanted something over the counter for her you could have returned bottles or something - I don't know of any over the counter "flu" medicine that costs more than, say $10. If you can't afford that then surely your little girl could qualify for some health coverage. Rutland also has a free medical clinic, who I'm sure would have been more than happy to help if you told them you couldn't get her any medicine. Check out this link before she gets sick again. . .

http://www.healthinsurancefinders.com/healthinsurance/vermont/schip.html
-- Posted by Amy Grover on Thu, May 21, 2009, 7:46 am EST

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"He can speak for himself, the cats & dogs at RCHS can not ask for help."

Well Said.
-- Posted by Lives in Colorado on Thu, May 21, 2009, 12:20 am EST

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"i needed the money to get my daughter her medicine,because she has the flu."

Oh great. It has reproduced. Do the world a favor and next time steal enough to get a vasectomy

THAT IS PRICELESS!!!
-- Posted by rutvegas on Wed, May 20, 2009, 11:52 pm EST

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Well, when I get busted stealing petty change donated for animals, the herald is MORE THAN WELCOME to use my real name rather than my screen name. I'll have to admit that I made a mistake (since I got caught - otherwise it was a smart move I guess).
-- Posted by None None on Wed, May 20, 2009, 10:38 pm EST

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Dude, you say you got the money for your sick daughter's medicine, but then you say you never even opened the box. I guess she wasn't that important. And then you asked someone else for the money. Ummm, sounds like your story aint jivin. And aint nobodies runnin you down but your self. Yous did do something stupid and being called stupid is the price you pay. Maybe after 5 years of doing the right thing peoples might change theres opinons about you. It dont happen just cause you say yous going to.
-- Posted by Tyrell Brown on Wed, May 20, 2009, 8:26 pm EST

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see i like this you guys dont even tell your real names and that is why you run people down well i live 3 west street fair haven please come by and call me names i never said it was right it was a stupid thing to do.and i am trying to make it right and no i dont drink,or do dope so i don't know what to tell you.i posted my real name
-- Posted by Rebecca merrow on Wed, May 20, 2009, 6:15 pm EST

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What a scumbag. I guess instead of working or looking for a job you decide to take from others and that is okay. If you can't make your child's health a priority in your life you are a dirtbag. Bet you have all the cigs, dope and alcohol you need. Grow up and make a contribution to society, and quit preying on it.
-- Posted by Enoch on Wed, May 20, 2009, 5:44 pm EST

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"i needed the money to get my daughter her medicine,because she has the flu."

Oh great. It has reproduced. Do the world a favor and next time steal enough to get a vasectomy.
-- Posted by the truth on Wed, May 20, 2009, 5:13 pm EST

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Right. Can't believe a thief anyway.
-- Posted by Dave None on Wed, May 20, 2009, 4:32 pm EST

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and i also think that Chief William Humphries called the paper to make himself look good.He use to be a granville NY cop, but his co workers were throwing around the accusation that he was sleeping with under aged girls. He also had to call for back up because he locked himself in the back of the cruiser with a young lady. Thats why he transfered to Vermont from New York. These were all in the paper. So they must be facts. I cant belive that he lied to the paper saying it was a puppy when it was a plain green box. He was only trying to make himself look better.
-- Posted by Rebecca merrow on Wed, May 20, 2009, 3:49 pm EST

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I'm Nicholas Sargent.And what you guys are reading is wrong.I took a green box with $14.00 dollars in it.Not $40.00.And I know it was wrong and really stupid.But i needed the money to get my daughter her medicine,because she has the flu.And i know that not is a good reason,but that is the truth.Now when william Humphries came to my home he didn't drop no hammer like he told the writer.And i did give the money back the box was not even open.then after i left the police station i went and borrow money from a family member.went back to the police station and was willing to put $150.00 in that green box.and william told me that.That wouldn't fix the problem.all i can say is I am sorry.And i also called the shelter to donate some time helping them.
-- Posted by Rebecca merrow on Wed, May 20, 2009, 3:42 pm EST

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What is wrong with you YOU KNOW?? Sticking up for a low-life who tried to take food and shelter from a homeless animal?? I seriously doubt it went for anything concrete, probably for his next hit or drink and he deserves every bit of time he gets, how low can you go is spot on!!! I donate often to my local shelter and I am always glad when the animals find good loving homes which is what they deserve. I adopted a cat that lived to be 22 when he died in 2004 and I adopted another cat three years later and she lived to be 17 so these shelters are vital and then you get some loser that thinks it is OK to steal for them, LOSER!!!
-- Posted by Linda Brown on Wed, May 20, 2009, 2:25 pm EST

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We should lock this lowlife in a room with a couple of dozen hungry, homeless animals and let them decide what justice should be.
-- Posted by the truth on Wed, May 20, 2009, 10:59 am EST

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What a scumbag,period!!!!! Hey Rebecca, you need to get a life and take a course in spelling and grammer. Anyone who sticks up for this lowlife, is either his family member or other half. Stealing from any charity, is the lowest you can stoop. Get a life!!
-- Posted by david Kibling on Tue, May 19, 2009, 11:32 pm EST

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He can speak for himself, the cats & dogs at RCHS can not ask for help. He need to go to jail. sorry.
-- Posted by joy joy on Tue, May 19, 2009, 9:30 pm EST

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The fact that you are persecuting this man shows that you have no heart. I am not saying it is right to steal, but you have no idea what he stole this money for. Would you rather be feeding animals or feeding his children??

Are you kidding me? I dont really care if he stole it to get money for his sick Grandma's medicine...He's a thief either way, and as a human being he has all kinds of programs available to him those poor cats and dogs don't. Or maybe he could lay off the drugs and get a job....
-- Posted by rutvegas on Tue, May 19, 2009, 9:06 pm EST

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Hey, You Know, no heart? Don't sound so, ummmmm stupid?

It was probably beer and cigs.....

Don't be so gullible.... JEESE!

Or why don't you point him at a Ronald McDonalds House donation station, at least that way you can see him for what he is. A thief.
-- Posted by Dave None on Tue, May 19, 2009, 3:24 pm EST

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Wow, I never heard of such low life scum being so low. Reminds me of the bacteria on the inside of my toilet bowl. A person like this needs to clean themselves up and get a job like the rest of us. It pains me to think these losers are living in our communities and how trashy they are. There are no two sides about it. They steal plastic toys with money in them. They deserve to go to prison so I can support them with my tax dollars. At least I know they'll be taken care of by my brother bubba' who's waiting for them in their cell. Now if this joker has a mentality of about 3 or 4 years old, I might give them some slack, but I didn't read anything about that being the case. What a effin' loser.
-- Posted by RUKIDDING ME on Tue, May 19, 2009, 2:13 pm EST

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The fact that you are persecuting this man shows that you have no heart. I am not saying it is right to steal, but you have no idea what he stole this money for. Would you rather be feeding animals or feeding his children??
-- Posted by You Know on Tue, May 19, 2009, 1:56 pm EST

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How can you stick up for a 28 year old man who steals from homeless puppies and kittens?
-- Posted by Comfy Anon on Tue, May 19, 2009, 12:50 pm EST

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maybe the paper blow the whole situation out of control. But I guess none of you up standing citizans have ever done anything wrong and that is why you hide behind a screen name because you are sooo perfect. They never get the whole story only one side of it. go figure
-- Posted by Rebecca merrow on Tue, May 19, 2009, 12:12 pm EST

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How LOW can you go??
-- Posted by None None on Tue, May 19, 2009, 11:23 am EST

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Kudos!! to the staff for being so dilegent for taking the time to look through the videos. Otherwise, he may not have been caught. Great employees!!!!!
-- Posted by SB None on Tue, May 19, 2009, 8:39 am EST

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