Bennington Police Nab Man on Burglary and Narcotics Charges During Holiday Break-In
A Bennington man known to police and prosecutors was arrested this week on burglary and narcotics charges for breaking into an antique business on Main Street during the July 4th fireworks.
John Chinnici, 39, was arraigned Thursday afternoon via video link from a Rutland holding facility on four felonies: burglary, possession of stolen property, Fentanyl trafficking, and grand larceny. He denied all four charges. Chinnici was charged with aggravated habitual offender status on each instance, which could result in life sentences for all four felonies. If someone commits three felonies, Vermont prosecutors can call them a habitual offender.
Chinnici pleaded guilty to felony burglary in 2004 and multiple misdemeanors, including possession of stolen items and illegal mischief, in Vermont. The alleged new charges came while Chinnici was on release from two outstanding instances of possessing stolen items. Chinnici also had two federal felony convictions: 2004, for felon in possession of a handgun, and 2016, for using a communication facility to distribute Oxycodone.
Superior Court Judge John Valente extended the hold without bail until a weight of evidence hearing at prosecutors’ request. Chinnici is at Rutland’s Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility until then.
An affidavit states that Bennington Police were called to 473 Main Street, Main Street Antiques, at 9:55 PM on July 4 for a burglary. Upon arrival, officers found multiple glass display cases broken and jewelry, precious metals, and graded coins gone. A burglary hammer was found and taken as evidence.
Police received a written statement from a witness who reported hearing two bangs and seeing a black person dash out of the door and into a tiny lane next to the antiques shop. After 30 seconds, the person re-entered the establishment. Police had another witness see a road bike park near the Bennington Library minutes before the burglary. The black-clad biker puts on a mask and gloves and heads to the shop. The same witness saw the person with a tiny black bag climb back on the bike and leave.
Library video showed the cyclist with a hammer and mask. Detectives quickly recognized Chinnici when he put on the mask. Under his right eye, Chinnici has a distinctive tattoo. Chinnici is accused of smashing glass cases and throwing products from trays into the black bag on store CCTV.
Charles Suss, one of three antiques store partners, informed police that $30,000 in items, including rare coins and silver bars, was gone. The lost coins included an 1864 Liberty twenty-dollar gold coin and a 1795 silver dollar worth over $7000. A 14k gold Derek Jeter World Series ring with the NY Yankees on the face in a wooden box and two wedding band trays were removed.
Tuesday morning police stopped a 2008 Jeep Liberty for a red-light violation on Park Street. Police found burglary suspect Chinnici in the front passenger seat as reported by Bennington Banner.
After his detention, Chinnici was searched and found a bag of wedding bands and gold necklaces with Main Street Antiques tags. An alleged three-gram package of white substance and $787.84 in cash were recovered on Chinnici. Fentanyl was found in the powder. Later searches of Chinnici’s flat yielded bags of watches and several sleeved baseball cards.
Once reached, Charles Suss validated the tags’ information. Police think the jewelry tags cost nearly $9,000.
