Newport
Jeffrey Buzzell, 41, of Claremont, and Jamie Stevens, 32, of Newport, were arraigned in Sullivan Superior Court on charges of burglary, theft, second-degree assault and receiving stolen property.
Buzzell also pleaded not guilty to an additional count of receiving stolen property.
Authorities allege the men broke into Christine and Arthur Beebe’s home, stole jewelry and gold and silver coins and bars, tied Christine Beebe up and left the residence.
The Beebes own Twin State Coin and Treasures in West Lebanon.
The men drove to New York along with Buzzell’s wife, Sarah Carr, shortly after the incident to pawn some of the items, according to court documents.
A contractor doing work on the house found Beebe the next morning.
Beebe continues to suffer from some of her injuries, Sullivan County Attorney Marc Hathaway said in court on Wednesday.
Buzzell in June also pleaded not guilty to three additional charges: falsifying physical evidence and criminal solicitation or receiving stolen property, both of which are related to the break-in, as well as assaulting a prisoner, according to court documents.
Buzzell appeared in court via video from the Sullivan County House of Corrections on Wednesday. Sullivan Superior Court Judge Brian Tucker ordered Buzzell’s bail remain at $250,000 cash. Buzzell has been incarcerated since May 6, 2015, three days after the break-in, on an unrelated parole violation.
Stevens entered the Newport courthouse through the front entrance but left on a bailiff’s arm out a side door after Tucker set his bail at $3,000 cash.
Buzzell’s bail was set much higher because of his lengthy criminal history, Hathaway said.
Carr pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy to possess stolen property in the case and was sentenced to a year in jail.
A fourth person charged in the case, Sherry West, 49, of Claremont, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to receive or possess stolen property at her arraignment on Wednesday.
West was ordered held on $1,000 cash bail; she had made bail Wednesday afternoon.
Police allege West and Carr went to Chandlers Mills Road in Newport to search for some of the items that were stolen.
Recorded phone conversations in March of this year while Buzzell was in jail allegedly depict Buzzell instructing the women where to find some of the stolen items.
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.