AUGUSTA — An Augusta man pleaded guilty Tuesday to burglarizing a city home and stealing a firearm from there and stealing a second firearm in West Gardiner within two days last January, selling the guns for cash and drugs.
Jake Lee Foster, 21, was sentenced at the Capital Judicial Center to serve an initial nine months and one day behind bars, and the remainder of the four-year term was suspended. He was also placed on probation for three years.
The prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Frayla Tarpinian, told Judge Evert Fowle that Foster was one of two men who broke into a woman’s apartment in Augusta, stole her television — which was later found secreted in the basement of the building — and a firearm on Jan. 24.
The next day, Tarpinian said, Foster and two others stole a firearm and cash from a West Gardiner home. Foster was identified and arrested after people saw text messages from a co-defendant talking about the crimes.
Tarpinian said the firearms were sold but later recovered from the buyer.
An affidavit filed with the court said Foster sold the stolen guns to William Seabron, also known as “Haze,” in exchange for money and drugs. Tarpinian said Foster told police he had substance abuse issues. Seabron was convicted later of receiving stolen property and possession of firearm by a prohibited person.
Foster, who has been in jail since his arrest in February, was represented by attorney Jonathan Handelman.
In all, Foster pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, three counts of theft and one count of violation of a protective order; two counts of theft and two other civil violations were dismissed in exchange for the guilty pleas.
Conditions of probation prohibit Foster from contact with the victims of the burglary and thefts and order him to pay $120 restitution.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams