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Did He Doo-Doo That? How to Get Your Bail Revoked

By Joel Zand on September 10, 2009 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

A 25-year-old Maine man indicted on federal charges for selling a stolen tractor on eBay appears to have been busy while free on bail. Instead of "doing time," perhaps Matthew Theriault was thinking about someone else doo-doo'ing time while he was getting preparing to defend his upcoming tractor scam trial.

U.S. Marshalls took Theriault back into custody last week after new allegations surfaced (see below) that -- while out on bail -- he allegedly threw poo-poo into the SUV of one of his father's tenants.

According to an affidavit filed by the federal probation officer responsible for Theriault, tenant Erwin May who rented an apartment owned by Theriault's father called 911 to report a bizarre scene. From his living room, May heard and witnessed the younger Theriault drive up and park a truck behind his Ford Explorer.

Then "he heard a splashing sound" and watched Theriault "get back in his truck and speed off."  May's girlfriend Sherri Prout told police that she also "heard a splash" after just coming home, and turned around to see Theriault drive away in his truck." 

Officer David Levesque, the Lewiston, Maine police officer (inset) who investigated the foul-smelling caper was clearly disgusted with the crime scene, describing the smell of the "brown liquid and chunky substance in the tenant's car "as nauseating and unbearable."

Of course, Levesque made sure to take pictures of the damaged vehicle: the entire '99 Ford Explorer "was filled with the substance"

According to the affidavit filed in support of revoking Theriault's bail (below), Levesque told the suspect's parole officer that he believes intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly throwing poo-poo inside the victim's vehicle amounts to aggravated criminal mischief under Maine law, punishable by up to five years in state prison.

None of this is likely to curry favor with the U.S. District Court Judge David Brock Hornby, the Harvard educated lawyer who is presiding over Theriault's criminal trial for allegedly selling a stolen tractor on eBay, and transporting it across state lines.

You can read Theriault's federal indictment in that case below:

 

 

At courts around the country, you often hear lawyers, judges, and disgruntled litigants talking about cases that 'stink.'

Sometimes, they really do.

Photo credits: Kubata Tractor Corp.; Lewiston, ME Police Dept.

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