Perry youth to pay share of damages for home trashing

A 16-year-old boy from Perry must pay restitution to the family whose home he admits to trashing earlier this summer.

In 4th District Court in Calais on Tuesday, August 23, Jacob Stanley admitted his role in the June 7 incident, which caused over $17,000 worth of damage, and Judge John Romei ordered him to pay back his part of the restitution. The teenager was also sentenced to the Maine Youth Center until age 19, with all but 14 days suspended, and placed on probation for almost two years.

"I'm pretty much satisfied with that," says Sandra Seeley of the sentencing. She and her husband Alvah "Junior" Seeley and children were away at a wedding in Florida when their Adams Street home was trashed. "He's going to pay us back a minimum of $100 a month. He has worked ever since [the incident] happened, and he's saved every cent."

"I believe in honesty, and Jacob has been honest," she points out.

The other youth charged in the incident, Perry Newell Jr., 15, of Pleasant Point, pled not guilty and will appear at a separate hearing on September 27.

"I don't know what's going on in his head," sighs Seeley. "I don't know how he can deny taking part in what happened."

Stanley and Newell were both charged with aggravated mischief and criminal trespass in connection with the Seeley house incident. The two were allegedly intoxicated when they skipped school and broke into the home. Furniture, appliances and dishes were destroyed, and the two even vomited on the family's belongings.

As for the current condition of her house, which was uninsured, Seeley says it is "coming along. It's a slow process. At least we're living in it."