The Canadian Press: Connecticut brothers accused of theft, burglary to help cover legal costs

CONNECTICUT COMPUTER THIEVES ARRESTED The Canadian Press: Connecticut brothers accused of theft, burglary to help cover legal costs

Connecticut brothers accused of theft, burglary to help cover legal costs

7 hours ago

MONTVILLE, Conn. - Two brothers who tried unsuccessfully to dump a stolen truck because they could not remove its tires attempted to cover their legal expenses in that case by stealing items from a local elementary school, according to authorities.

Christopher Lamotte, 18, and Steven Lamotte Jr., 20, face several larceny and burglary charges from the two incidents, police said this week.

Authorities in this southeastern Connecticut town say they had little difficulty finding the suspects.

In the first case, the truck's owner told police that Christopher Lamotte was the only other person who knew about the vehicle's hidden key, according to court records. And in the second, the brothers allegedly forgot a knapsack with one of their names inside at the crime scene, authorities said.

The string of incidents started last summer when the brothers allegedly stole the pickup truck belonging to one of Christopher Lamotte's former co-workers, police said.

When the Lamottes discovered they did not have the right tools to remove the tires, they tried to roll the truck off a boat launch into a river, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

But the vehicle rolled off course and onto rocks before overturning, trapping Christopher Lamotte inside until a friend broke the window to get him out, the affidavit said.

Christopher Lamotte was arrested soon afterward and has pleaded not guilty in that case.

Steven Lamotte was later found in New York and extradited to Connecticut, where he was charged this week by Montville and Ledyard police, according to The Day of New London newspaper and court records. He has not yet entered a plea, according to court records.

Authorities say the brothers then stole several hundred dollars' worth of computer and electronic equipment this fall from Murphy Elementary School in Montville to help cover Christopher Lamotte's legal fees from the stolen truck case.

Police who investigated the burglary and found the knapsack searched Steven Lamotte's home and found laptop computers, a microphone, portable radios, a digital camera and a projector, according to court records.

Another laptop was recovered from a friend who told police he purchased it for $140 from Steven Lamotte, police said.

Christopher Lamotte had been released on a promise to appear in court on the first case involving the stolen truck, but a judge has ordered him to be rearrested because he missed an October court date.

Steven Lamotte was being held Friday on $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 10.