The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has charged two people with stealing returnable bottles and cans that had been donated to a popular charitable effort in Baldwin.

Police arrested Matthew Colby, 32, of Parsonsfield, and Christin E. Parmenter, 29, of Newfield, on Wednesday.

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Over the last two weeks, deputies have investigated several reports of thefts from a donation trailer for “Cans for a Cure.”

The trailer was parked at the corner of Depot Street and River Road, and “Cans for a Cure” had been championed by two local boys, Riley and Bryce Deshaies.

Colby was charged with felony theft because of his prior convictions. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. Parmenter was charged with misdemeanor theft, and her bail was set at $100. She faces up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Colby is being held without bail because he is alleged to have violated separate bail conditions in York County.

The investigation into the thefts will continue, and more arrests may be forthcoming, the sheriff’s office said.

After news of the thefts spread on social media, a group of social clubs in Sanford banded together to help the kids recoup their loss, said Peter Caramihalis, one of the volunteers who pitched in.

Caramihalis, 53, of Sanford, said he and several others organized a week-long drive by the Wolves Club, the Lafayette Club, the Springvale Social Club, the American Legion, the Elks Lodge, Above and Beyond Catering, the Sanford Amvets and the local VFW hall to collect returnables.

Last Friday, Caramihalis said he borrowed a pickup truck and a trailer to donate the proceeds – what he estimated was at least $1,000 in bottles and cans.

“These kids are working their tails off to do something good, and some idiot does something and I was afraid these kids would get a bad taste in their mouth,” Caramihalis said. “We wanted to show to these kids that not everyone in this world is bad.”

Matt Byrne can be contacted at:

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