Real-life Perry Mason accused of break-in

NEWPORT, Vt. (AP) — This Perry Mason is accused of a crime.

Perry Mason, of Hardwick, Vermont — not to be confused with the fictional criminal defense lawyer played by Raymond Burr — has pleaded not guilty to breaking into a jewelry store in July and stealing $110,000 worth of handmade items.

The Caledonian Record reports (http://bit.ly/1saGhga) bail for the 46-year-old Mason was set at $50,000. But even if he’s able to post it, Mason isn’t likely to leave prison right away. He’s being held on a parole violation. A prosecutor said he also has five prior burglary convictions and an escape conviction.

Mason’s lawyer, Jessica Burke, says the state’s evidence is weak.

But police say in an affidavit it was through the arrest of another man that investigators identified their suspect.

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Information from: The Caledonian-Record, http://www.caledonianrecord.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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