Three Arrested After Breaking Into State Trooper’s House In West Gardiner

Maine State Police have charged three people following a burglary at a State Trooper’s home in West Gardiner. According to Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland, the arrests came after one of the stolen items, a kayak, was sold over the internet.  Troopers say the money was being used to buy drugs.

Arrested over the weekend were: Dustin Woodworth, 29, of Augusta, Ian Watson. 27,  of Farmingdale and Sarah Giampetro,  25, also of Farmingdale, McCausland said.

Trooper Tim Black discovered that his garage at his home in West Gardiner had been broken into last week.  In addition to the kayak, also taken were two mountain bikes, tools, a State Police jacket, ammunition and State Police patches.

A couple of days later, troopers found that the kayak had been advertised for sale on Craigslist and Facebook and that it had been purchased for $140.  Troopers interviewed the unsuspecting buyer and that led investigators to Woodworth’s home on Gannett Street in Augusta, where most of the remaining items stolen from Black’s garage were recovered, McCausland said.

The trio was arrested early Sunday morning. Woodworth and Watson are charged with two counts of burglary, felony theft and criminal mischief. Woodworth and Giampetro were also charged with a drug violations. Woodworth was charged with possessing heroin and Giampetro was charged with having prescription medication not prescribed to her.

The trio was taken to the Kennebec County Jail in Augusta.