Newport
Newport’s Jamie Stevens, 32, took a plea agreement in Sullivan Superior Court in Newport on Friday and pleaded guilty to felony burglary, assault and receiving stolen property charges.
The then-64-year-old victim, Christine Beebe, gave a powerful victim impact statement before Judge Brian Tucker imposed Stevens’ sentence.
Beebe, who with her husband, Arthur, owns Twin State Coin and Treasures in West Lebanon, was home alone at the time of the burglary.
“I would like to address Mr. Stevens and let him know what my life has been like for 19 months,” Beebe said while looking at Stevens, who was looking straight ahead at the time.
“Mr. Stevens, please look at me,” Beebe said. He complied, and Beebe continued.
“You told me that night to not look at you. I am looking now. What you did to me, there is no excuse for it,” Beebe said. “I still have nightmares about that night; I still hear you tell me ‘don’t look at me’; I feel your forearm across my throat.”
Beebe posed one question to Stevens that she said was from her children.
“How would you feel if someone did that to your mother?” she asked. “These are the things you will have to live with. I pray that what comes out of this makes you a better person.”
Stevens’ attorney, Charlie Buttrey, responded to Beebe’s statements, ultimately saying he and Stevens concluded that “there are no words that are adequate.”
“I don’t think anyone could listen to Mrs. Beebe and not be struck by her grace under the circumstances,” Buttrey said.
“We agree; there is no excuse for what happened, and what happened was completely out of character (for Stevens),” he said.
Stevens didn’t have a criminal record at the time of the incident.
Prior to imposing a sentence, Tucker said the state could have requested a longer sentence given the circumstances. However, he said, the negotiated sentence is “reasonable.”
Tucker handed Stevens two 3 ½- to seven-year sentences on the burglary and assault charges.
Both of those sentences will be served at the same time.
Stevens also received a seven- to 15-year suspended sentence on the felony conspiracy to receive stolen property charge. The state dismissed a second theft-related charge.
Stevens also must pay restitution. The Beebes say the stolen items total $185,000. At Stevens’ request, a hearing may be held on the amount of restitution or the method of payment for it, court documents indicate.
Police say Stevens entered the Beebes’ River Road home in Charlestown with Jeffrey Buzzell on the night of May 3, 2015, and stole jewelry, unique coins and precise amounts of gold and silver, tied Christine Beebe up in the basement and then left the residence.
The men, along with Buzzell’s wife, Sarah Carr, drove to New York and pawned the items, authorities have said.
Beebe was found the next morning by a contract worker who arrived at her home to start his workday.
She was hospitalized after the attack; she had a pre-existing medical condition that required her to take routine medications.
Buzzell’s court case is ongoing. He faces a slew of charges, including burglary and assault, and is currently being held on $250,000 cash bail.
Buzzell, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, is slated for trial in February.
Carr pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy to possess stolen property and was sentenced to a year in jail.
A fourth person in the investigation, Sherry West, is facing a charge of conspiracy to receive or possess stolen property. Her court case is ongoing.
After Stevens’ sentence was imposed, Sullivan County Attorney Marc Hathaway, who prosecuted the case, walked over to the defense table and shook Stevens’ hand, which he routinely does with defendants after a conviction.
Hathaway spoke softly to Stevens for several seconds before letting go of his hand and backing away. Stevens wiped tears from his eyes as he left the courtroom.
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.