Current Court Report - February 26, 2024

There were no arraignments or dispositions in Monday’s Nantucket District Court session aside for minor motor vehicle violations and warrants. However late last week, an island resident was arraigned on multiple occasions for charges that allege he possessed crack cocaine and stole numerous items from the Marine Home Center by using funds from a contractor's bank account without authority.

On Thursday, February 22 Patrick Gardner, 35, of Nantucket was arraigned on Feb. 21 charges of larceny under $1,200, shoplifting, possessing a Class B drug (subsequent offense), and identity fraud. He had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf and his bail was set at $500. He was ordered to return to court April 8 for a pretrial hearing and stay away from the Marine Home Center.

According to the police report, officer John Hutchinson responded to the Marine Home Center following the report of a man who falsely charged items in the amount of $525.30 using a local contractor’s business account. Police were given a security photo of the man, who was eventually identified as Gardner, and the owner of the account that was falsely charged told police Gardner did not have permission to charge it.

During booking, police said Gardner was found to be in possession of a hard white rock like substance, which they said was crack cocaine.

On Friday, February 23 Gardner was arraigned again – this time on February 22 charges of possessing a Class B drug (subsequent offense, two counts), and a charge of receiving stolen property.

These charges stemmed from NPD officers executing a search warrant of Gardner’s residence. They searched the property and discovered a wallet containing his driver’s license as well as drugs (cocaine), drug residue, and paraphernalia in plain view. Police said next to the drugs was a backpack containing a Marine Home Center paper invoice and receipt, as well as items consistent with the property that had been stolen from the store. More stolen items were found in a rear shed on the property.

Bail on these new charges was set at $10,000 and a surety of $100,000 was set. Gardner did not meet the bail and was sent to the Barnstable House of Corrections. Gardner’s next pretrial date on both cases will be March 25.

*All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty under a court of law*