ROCKLAND — A Waldoboro couple has been charged with allegedly stealing $72,000 from a retirement account of an Appleton resident.

Harold Martin, 51, and Michelle Leonard, 49, were arrested August 16 by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and charged with felony theft.

They made their initial court appearance on August 19 and were released on bail.

According to the court documents, Detective Justin Twitchell of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office was notified in April by Attorney Rick Morse, of Rockland, that his client had been defrauded of approximately $72,000 from his retirement account.

Detective Donald Murray met with the neighbor of the man Morse identified, who had been recently assisting him with his bills, banking and other independent living issues. He told detectives that when he returned from being out of town, he found the victim living in a filthy, cluttered and disorganized house, according to the affidavit.

The neighbor told the detective that the victim had made statements to him about Martin and Leonard stealing his retirement savings. Both Martin Leonard worked for the victim, doing handyman work around the man’s house.  

The detective interviewed the victim while he was a patient at Pen Bay Medical Center. The man told the detective that he had transferred money into an account in February that Martin controlled with the understanding that he would provide him funds whenever he needed it because it was difficult for him to get to the bank.

The victim told police that he had composed a handwritten contract between Martin, Leonard and himself, which they all signed. The contract specified that the money in the man’s account was to be returned to him whenever he wanted it. Additionally, Leonard was allowed to register his truck and use it for the winter but return it in the spring. The victim said he did not gift the money to Martin, but entrusted it with him so he could access it. The truck has not been returned, according to the court documents

The victim also told police that the contract was missing from his house.

In April, a search warrant was obtained by the district attorney’s office and the bank account was frozen, according to the court documents.

A review of the account by detectives showed that between February, when the account was opened, and May, there was approximately $46,000 withdrawn.

Martin will appear in court again October 24. At this time, another court date has not been scheduled for Leonard.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com