METHUEN — An 18-year-old Salem, N.H., man has been charged with receiving stolen property over $250 in the theft of a class ring from a city police officer.
According to court records, Lt. Michael Wnek's ring was stolen from his home July 24, when his son Alex had a party while his parents were on vacation.
Police went to the house and some of the eight guests ran and hid in the home. Police took Wnek's son to his grandparents' home. Alex Wnek thought all the guests had left and later received a call from one guest. She said she had been hiding in an upstairs closet with Michael Peters Jr., 18, of 11 Independence Drive, Salem, and she thought Peters was still inside the house, the police report said.
Another family member went back to the house, but could not find Peters and nothing appeared to be missing or disturbed.
Alex Wnek told police he received a call from another guest the next day who said Peters had "mad cash" on him and advised him to check the home. He returned to the house to find the master bedroom ransacked and numerous items missing, including jewelry, two laptop computers and an Xbox video game system.
Lt. Wnek told investigators he learned July 29 his 1980 Methuen High School class ring had been pawned at Cash N Gold on Merrimack Street in Methuen. Police learned Peters had paid two others $10 each to pawn the ring for $146 — about 25 percent of its value, according to the store owner. The two who pawned the ring have not been charged but the investigation continues.
Peters was arrested by Salem police on a fugitive from justice warrant, waived rendition and returned to Massachusetts, where he was arraigned Aug. 4 and released on personal recognizance.
Lt. Wnek could not be reached for comment for this story.
Peters is due back in court Oct. 1.
