ALFRED ”“ An Old Orchard Beach woman has been ordered to pay $950 for taking Christmas wreaths off grave sites from Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Pamela Golarz, 57, was charged Dec. 10, with theft by receiving stolen property as well as falsifying physical evidence, and theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.
Golarz pleaded guilty to theft by stolen property Thursday, according to court documents. The charge of falsifying physical evidence was dismissed, and if Golarz does not commit any crimes in the next year, the charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer will also be dismissed.
York County Superior Court Justice G. Arthur Brennan fined Golarz $500 in relation to the charge of falsifying physical evidence and ordered her to pay $450 in restitution in relation to the charge of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer.
Saco police received reports of thefts of 15 Christmas wreaths and arrangements totaling $800 from Laurel Hill Cemetery in early December, according to a press release from Saco Deputy Police Chief Jeffrey Holland.
A family member of someone buried at Laurel Hill set up a game camera at the cemetery, and video footage from the camera showed what appeared to be a woman with short hair, exiting a black Ford Explorer, stealing an arrangement off a grave site, before going back to the car.
Wreaths found decorating Golarz’s multiple Old Orchard Beach properties matched the style of wreaths made by a local artist, specifically for Laurel Hill Cemetery, and the artist said she made that style of wreath only for the cemetary, according an affidavit by Saco Police Detective Daryen Granata.
Golarz told police she had purchased wreaths and arrangements from a road side vendor near the Cascade Flea Market, according to Granata.
The writing on the receipt matched that of a sample of Golarz’s left-handed writing, and the receipt form was identical to the rent receipt form Golarz had given one of her tenants, according to Granata.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribunecom.