From Lowell Sun, 6/2/2015
By Alana Melanson
Sun Staff
LOWELL -- An Ayer man accused of stealing computer equipment while working as an Aramark custodian for Chelmsford Public Schools was released on personal recognizance Monday following his arraignment on a stolen property charge.
Donald Beardsley, 54, is charged with receiving stolen property over $250.
According to court documents, Beardsley's last known address was 11 Groton School Road, Apt. 6, Ayer, but Beardsley no longer resides there due to a restraining order his former roommate holds against him.
According to a police report included with court documents, Chelmsford police detectives were called to Beardsley's Ayer address last Wednesday by Beardsley's 50-year-old roommate, who reported Beardsley had stolen property from Chelmsford schools. The roommate told police he has been renting a room in Beardsley's trailer since January and noticed the bedroom contained several computers with a Chelmsford Public Schools label. When he questioned Beardsley about the computers, he said Beardsley claimed to own them and then moved them to another room.
The roommate said Beardsley told him he worked as an Aramark janitor at a Chelmsford middle school "and he was able to take things home without anyone noticing," the report states. He told police he frequently saw Beardsley bring home stolen items from work, including commercial boxes of food such as hamburgers and muffins.
The roommate showed police seven Wyse computers and one Hewlett-Packard computer that were still in the trailer, according to the report.Two of the Wyse computers had Chelmsford Public Schools labels. Police also found a box of moldy blueberry muffins that were labeled Center Elementary School, a school in Chelmsford.Police spoke with Chelmsford Superintendent of Schools Frank Tiano, who confirmed, through Executive Director of Technology and Information Anne Marie Fiore, that the Wyse computers, valued at a total of $1,750, belonged to the Chelmsford schools. They did not believe the other computer was school property.
Using a photo provided by the roommate, Parker Middle School Principal Jeff Parks identified Beardsley as a janitor at the Chelmsford school, according to the report.
Beardsley also has an open case in Ayer District Court, stemming from an April 27 incident involving his roommate, the details of which were not immediately available. According to court documents, Beardsley was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery in connection with that incident. Due to the restraining order his roommate had against him, the roommate said he believed Beardsley to be living in his blue 1996 Chevrolet van somewhere in the Chelmsford area.
A warrant was put out for Beardsley's arrest on Friday. According to Chelmsford Deputy Police Chief Dan Ahern, Beardsley turned himself in at Lowell District Court Monday. Prosecutors had requested his pretrial release on the Ayer charges be revoked as a result of the Chelmsford charge, but a judge denied the request. Beardsley was released on personal recognizance following his arraignment and is due back in Lowell District Court Aug. 3 for a pretrial hearing. He is also due back in Ayer District District Court June 11 for a pretrial hearing for his charges there.
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