OAKLAND — Police have charged a Main Street man and woman with stealing a 77-year-old widow’s engagement and wedding rings from her home on Christmas Eve.

Stephen Frappier, 27, befriended the woman, who lived in the same 34 Main St. apartment building, before he allegedly stole the rings and other jewelry when she left for the holiday, according to police Capt. Rick Stubbert.

Stubbert said the stolen items were valued at more than $1,000.

Frappier was charged with theft, a Class D misdemeanor, and burglary, a Class C felony, on Dec. 26.

On Wednesday, police charged Melissa Burgess, 26, a friend of Frappier, with receiving stolen property, a Class D misdemeanor, in connection with the crime.

Some of the jewelry belonged to the woman’s deceased husband, Stubbert said.

“It had a lot of sentimental value,” Stubbert said.

Police did not release the woman’s name.

Officer Gary Bowman responded to a call from the victim on Dec. 26.

Stubbert said Frappier unsuccessfully attempted to sell the jewelry to an area business.

The misdemeanors are punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. The felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Bowman recovered all of the stolen property from Frappier’s apartment.

In 2010, Frappier was sentenced in Kennebec County Superior Court to two years in prison on charges of burglary, stealing drugs, and theft. In December, he was fined $500 in Somerset County Superior Court for operating while his license was suspended or revoked.

Matt Hongoltz-Hetling can be contacted at 861-9287 or at:

[email protected]

Twitter: @hh_matt

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