Police: Alcohol theft leads to pot charge against Augusta man

AUGUSTA — A Sunday night alcohol theft led to marijuana cultivation charges against a city resident, police said.

William Lee Austin, 26, of Sewall Street, was arrested and charged with theft by receiving stolen property, aggravated cultivation of marijuana and refusing to submit to arrest or detention.

Steven James Williams, 32, of South China was also summonsed on a charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.

Police responded to a report of shoplifting at the Circle K convenience store on Capitol Street at 11:10 p.m. Sgt. Christopher Shaw of the Augusta Police Department said alcohol was reported stolen.

Shortly afterward, Shaw said an officer noticed two men, Austin and Williams, running down Sewall Street with the alcohol in hand. While interviewing Austin at his Sewall Street apartment, the officer noticed marijuana plants growing at the residence, Shaw said.

A Kennebec County Jail official said Austin was in jail Monday afternoon, being held on $1,000 bail.

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