ROCKLAND – A Hope man who is accused of breaking into the Rockland Café on Main Street on Jan 20 remains in the Knox County Jail.

Mark Hupper, 41, was arrested by police Jan. 20 and charged with burglary, theft by unauthorized taking or transfer and aggravated criminal mischief.

Hupper made his initial appearance in Knox County Court on Jan. 21. Judge Sarah Gilbert set his bail at $5,000 cash. He was ordered to not return to the Rockland Café as a stipulation of his bail.

According to the affidvavit filed by Rockland Police, on Jan. 20, at approximately 8:20 a.m., they responded to the business at 441 Main Street for a reported break-in that had occurred overnight. When police arrived on the scene they found that the front door had been damaged and forced open.

Rockland’s Criminal Investigation Division took over the investigation, conducting interviews and collecting surveillance video and physical evidence.

Based on the information obtained and evidence collected, detectives conducted an interview with Mark Hupper and a search of a residence in Hope at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 20. Police found multiple bank bags with Rockland Café written on them in Hupper’s possession.

The estimated amount of money stolen was $3,750 and police said they were able to recover nearly all of it. The damages to the restaurant are estimated at possibly up to $2,500, according to the affidavit.

Hupper has had three prior burglary convictions in the past 10 years and he was also on probation for a 2020 kidnapping charge, police said.

He is scheduled to appear in Knox County Court again on March 12 for a dispositional conference.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com