AUGUSTA — A 37-year-old Belgrade woman was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison, with all but an initial two years suspended, for robbing a shopper of her wallet at Walmart in Augusta.
Audra L. Purington had pleaded guilty two months ago in Kennebec County Superior Court to the July 2 robbery at the Augusta store as well as a number of other charges, including theft of another wallet and violating conditions of release June 28-July 1.
The initial two-year prison term is to be followed by four years of probation.
The sentence also includes concurrent two-year prison terms for criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, assault and terrorizing with a dangerous weapon that occurred Feb. 7-10, 2014, in Augusta and three counts of unlawful trafficking in drugs — cocaine, cocaine base and heroin — that occurred April 12, 2013, in Kennebunk.
“We have the robbery on tape,” said District Attorney Maeghan Maloney at a related criminal proceeding for a codefendant who saw his charges dismissed. “What you see on the tape is when the victim holds onto her purse and Audra tries to take it away.”
Purington’s attorney, Scott Lynch, told the judge at the January hearing that Purington “had a rough patch of road” for about 18 months.
A number of other people were sentenced Thursday in separate hearings in cases in Kennebec County Superior Court and Augusta District Court held at the Capital Judicial Center:
• Jason Beckwith, 36, of Portland and formerly of Pittston, criminal mischief and criminal attempt (theft) Oct. 22, 2014, in Gardiner; unlawful possession of scheduled drug and violating condition of release Nov. 3, 2014, in Pittston; 364-day jail sentence, all but 10 days suspended (credit for time served), $400 fine, $1,100 restitution.
• Peter R. Bolduc, 60, of Winslow, operating under the influence Oct. 15, 2014, in Waterville; 96-hour alternative sentencing program, $500 fine, 150-day license suspension.
• Cody Nelson, 24, of Sidney, operating under the influence Dec. 6, 2014, in Augusta; 96-hour alternative sentencing program, $750 fine, 150-day license suspension.
• Andrew L. Maheu, 28, of Clinton and formerly of Waterville, unlawful trafficking in heroin and unlawful furnishing of oxycodone, unlawful possession of psilocybin mushrooms and criminal forfeiture of $785, all Aug. 27, 2014, in Waterville; six-year prison sentence, all but nine months and one day suspended, three years’ probation, $1,200 in fines, $720 restitution.
• Timothy W. Piper, 35, of Wayne, operating while license suspended or revoked and violating condition of release Oct. 6, 2014, in Gardiner; seven-day jail sentence, $600 fine, 150-day license suspension.
• Cody Jacob Thompson, 21, of Chelsea, violating protective order Sept. 17, 2014, and criminal mischief Sept. 9, 2014, both in Chelsea; 364-day jail sentence, all but 40 days suspended, one year probation, $175 restitution.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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