A Sharon man is accused of stealing $17,800 worth of antiques from his employer in order to fund his drug habit. Jesse Finely, 32, of Sharon, appeared at Litchfield Superior Court this week.

Finley was charged with first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny and second-degree giving a false statement to police.

Finley's employer, Paul Leka, owns the Colgate Mansion Collection. Leka first noticed and reported theft of his antiques in December of 2008. These thefts continued, with Leka reporting missing antique copper gutters, statues and iron benches, among other items. Finley, who had worked for Leka for a few years, was questioned by police, but denied he had any involvement in the thefts.

However, police received an anonymous tip linking Finley to the crime. Also, Finley's girlfriend corroborated the tip, informing police that she and Finley had driven to a New York antique store to sell the antiques, including some rugs and religious statues. His girlfriend claimed that Finley spent the money "getting high" on heroin.

The owner of the antique store provided police with receipts and license plate numbers. The owner said Finley claimed he inherited the antiques from a recently deceased relative. The items Finley sold matched items Leka reported as stolen. Further, the license plate listed on the receipt was traced back to a car owned by the father of Finley's girlfriend.

Finley's sister also revealed to police that Finley had asked her to pawn several antiques for him because he did not have proper identification. He told her that he received the antiques as payment for a job he completed.

The antiques pawned by Finley were impounded and Leka identified them as items that had been stolen from him. 

Finley's case has been continued to September 21. 

Source: "The Register Citizen "Sharon man accused of stealing antiques to fund drug habit" 8/25/10