MIDDLEBURY — The trial of a Middlebury man in connection with the Aug. 19, 2009, armed robbery of a Hancock convenience store ended in a hung jury in Addison County District Court on Feb. 4.
Addison County State’s Attorney David Fenster said he is weighing options in what to do next with the case involving Adam Racine, 23, who had been charged in connection with the robbery of JD’s Quick Stop Convenience Store on Route 100 in Hancock.
In that case, the male suspect — whose face had been partially concealed — pointed a gun at the JD’s Quick Stop clerk and demanded cash from the register. The suspect took what Vermont State Police said was “a large amount of change” from the store, then fled on foot north on Route 100. The suspect had been described as being a white male in his 30s, approximately six feet tall, having a stocky build and weighing between 190 and 210 pounds, with bright blue eyes.
On Sept. 16, 2009, VSP detectives arrested Racine for the robbery, citing DNA evidence allegedly linking Racine to an article recovered near the crime scene.
Police added Racine had been living near the store at the time of the robbery, and that store workers had reported seeing Racine in the store several times on the day of the robbery.
The state called 10 witnesses in last week’s trial, which lasted for three days. The jury took the case at around 1:15 p.m. on Friday and announced at around 8:45 p.m. that it was deadlocked.
Racine remains released on conditions.
Ironically, JD’s Quick Stop was the site of another armed robbery the day after the trial — Saturday, Feb. 5. VSP from the Royalton barracks received a 911 call at 8:55 p.m. alerting them to the robbery. Police said the suspect showed a gun to the clerk, and told him to get on the ground or he would kill him.
The assailant took all the money from the register, and left in a vehicle, with an unknown description and in an unknown direction.
Police described the suspect as a white male, 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-5, stocky build, wearing a camouflage jacket and ski mask.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call troopers at the Royalton barracks at 802-234-9933.