STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE

PRESS RELEASE UPDATE

DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE: November 4, 2009

INCIDENT:  Burglary / Theft of Explosives

CASE #:  08D303225

TROOPER: DET. TPR. Brian Berry  
STATION:   Royalton  
CONTACT#: (802) 234-9933

DATE/TIME:  Some time during the hours of 7 pm on 08/06/08 and 7 am on 08/07/08.

LOCATION (specific):   Rock Of Ages Quarry located on Quarry Road in Bethel, VT

VIOLATION:  Theft of Explosives, Burglary

VICTIM:   Rock Of Ages, Bethel, VT   

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

On August 07, 2008 The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Vermont State Police, began a joint investigation into the theft
of Dynamite, explosives and power equipment from the Rock Of Ages Quarry located in Bethel, VT.

The suspects involved in this case which included, Thomas Gauthier, Mikel Brady
and two individuals that were age 17 at the time of the offense are suspected of
being involved in a burglary ring with several other individuals.  Various members of this ring are involved in approximately 100 burglaries to businesses and residences, as well as numerous larceny cases over the last two years.  Some of these burglaries that members of this group were involved in include Lucky's in Bethel, the Randolph Movie Gallery, the Randolph Town Garage, The Randolph Ctr. Town Garage, the Randolph McDonald's at Exit 4 and the theft of Dynamite from the Rock of Ages Quarry in Bethel.  Members of this ring are also believed to be responsible for numerous larceny cases including the removal of catalytic converters from vehicles.  It is believed that a large amount of the property that was stolen in these cases was traded or sold to Douglas Finkle of Randolph for cash and drugs.  Finkle was recently arrested on Federal drug charges.  The suspects involved in the theft of the dynamite may face federal charges.

Numerous arrests have been made on subjects involved in this burglary ring and arrests are still pending as the investigation is ongoing.

On November 04, 2009, Thomas Gauthier and J.H., a juvenile at the time of the
offense, were arrested in regards to their involvement in the theft of Dynamite from the Rock of Ages Quarry.  Both Gauthier and J.H. received citations to appear in Windsor County District Court on January 12, 2010 to answer to the charges of Burglary and Possession and Use of Explosives.  J.H. was also charged with burglary and unlawful mischief based on his involvement in the Randolph Movie Gallery and Randolph Ctr. Town Garage burglaries, he was issued a citation to appear at the Orange District Court in January to answer to these charges.   J.H. was released on citations and Gauthier was lodged at the Orange County Sheriff's Department due to being in violation of conditions of release pertaining to an unrelated case. Bail was set at 25,000.00 on Gauthier based on the conditions of release violation. Mikel Brady and another subject, J.H., that was also a juvenile at the time of the offense, will be issued citations for charges pertaining to the dynamite theft once they return to Vermont.  Brady and J.H. recently fled to Mexico and are currently in the process of being extradited back to Vermont by the U.S. Marshall's Service.  Brady and J.H. had recently been charged with a home invasion in Sharon and had been released on conditions that stated they were not to leave the area.