[MSN] Prosecutor narrows charges in art heist

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Prosecutor narrows charges in art heist
05/31/2007
By TRACY KENNEDY

LITCHFIELD - A state prosecutor on Wednesday narrowed the charges against a New Milford man accused of stealing and destroying about 30 paintings worth thousands of dollars and setting a fire to a Warren home to cover the burglary.
New information was filed against Matthew Stenton, 30, 126 Willow Springs Road, substituting second-degree arson for the first-degree arson count and dates of the alleged crimes were set out in detail by Assistant State's Attorney Dawn Gallo.
"Specifically the second-degree arson is a charge used when a suspect sets fire purely to cover up a crime," Gallo said.
Charges that were not changed include first-degree larceny, two counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of tampering with evidence and first-degree criminal mischief.
Stenton pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Stenton was arrested by state police at Bantam Superior Court on May 17. He remains in state custody at New Haven Correctional Center, unable to post a $150,000 bond.
Attorney Christopher Cosgrove represented Stenton at Wednesday's hearing in Litchfield Superior Court. Stenton is expected to hire attorney Reka Ludanyi to represent him at his next court appearance June 20.
Gallo filed a motion to obtain swabs of Stenton's saliva to compare his DNA to chewing gum, blood and hair samples taken at the crime scene. Stenton admitted to stealing the paintings because he was desperate for cash, according to an arrest affidavit. The paintings included works from American artists Jack Frankurter, Charles LeClair and the late Max Gunther of Switzerland, police said.
It took two trips to take all of the artwork, Stenton allegedly told police. He also took bottles of liquor and set a fire igniting a roll of paper towels on the stove, but chickened out when he saw the flames and threw a large fur blanket on top of the fire, according to police. He burned numerous paintings in an outdoor burn barrel, according to the warrant.
Stenton sold five paintings for $800, according to the warrant. The dealers reported their purchase to police after seeing a flier advertising the theft in a shop.
Tracy Kennedy can be reached by e-mail at courts at registercitizen.com.

http://www.registercitizen.com