AUGUSTA — James S. Wilbur told a judge Tuesday that he wanted to be sentenced to five years and one day for breaking into two city churches this year and stealing cash and other items.
On Thursday, he got his wish.
Wilbur pleaded guilty to burglarizing South Parish Congregational Church and the Unitarian Universalist Church and stealing cash, a checkbook and other items. The break-ins occurred within hours of each other on Jan. 12.
Wilbur, 33, a transient who most recently lived at a group home in Litchfield, was arrested the day after the burglaries on a bus as it was getting onto Interstate 295 in West Gardiner.
Wilbur told police he was responsible for break-ins up and down the East Coast. He apparently targeted churches and medical offices.
Wilbur told the judge the specific sentence he requested would make it more likely he would be placed at the Maine State Prison in Warren, where he thinks he would have access to programs to help him break a cycle of criminal behavior that he’s followed since about age 16.
“I’ve had a very severe drug addiction since I was a child,” Wilbur said. He said he had tried previously to get treatment for it.
“Honestly, I think I just have been a criminal since 16 years old,” Wilbur told the judge, adding, “I realize how stupid that sounds.”
He said that he’s been trying to resolve his outstanding criminal charges now that he’s in the prison system.
Wilbur entered the guilty pleas after Justice Robert Mullen reluctantly allowed him to dismiss his attorney and represent himself.
The judge also asked a defense attorney in the courtroom to speak to Wilbur.
On Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Tyler LeClair, said he had contacted the Maine Department of Corrections and been told that a sentence of five years and one day should result in Wilbur being placed in Warren.
“I will tell you quite frankly if this was an open plea, I would be giving you a sentence of four years,” Mullen said.
However, he said he would go along with the five-year-and-one-day sentence recommended by LeClair and sought by Wilbur.
Betty Adams can be contacted at 621-5631 or at:
badams@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @betadams
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