Man accused of Saugus bank job arraigned

SALEM – A Wakefield man accused of stealing $2,000 from a Saugus bank in March remains held in lieu of $7,500 cash bail at the Middleton Jail, after pleading not guilty in Salem Superior Court Friday afternoon.Paul N. Faucher, 37, of 10 Colette Road, pleaded not guilty to a crime of unarmed robbery.Judge David A. Lowy set the bail amount, despite a strong plea from the commonwealth for a $25,000 cash bail.Assistant District Attorney Michael J. Sheehan pointed out Faucher’s criminal record as he told Lowy that the crime alleged involved a bank robbery at the Saugus Bank on March 19, where $2,000 was stolen and that Faucher is facing a similar charge out of Middlesex County involving another bank holdup in Wakefield.Defense lawyer Julie Buszuwski sought a lesser amount, suggesting $1,000 cash bail with conditions.It was in the late afternoon, when a man, later identified as Faucher, walked into the Saugus Bank at 412 Lynn Fells Parkway in Saugus and handed the teller a note demanding money. No weapon was shown during the holdup.The man fled the bank with $2,000 in a Honda.Faucher was arrested the next day after an investigation.He is not expected to post bail, but if he does, the judge ordered him to live with his mother, report weekly to probation and attend Narcotics Anonymous seven times a week until his case is resolved.His next scheduled court appearance is set down for Nov. 7 for a pretrial conference.