Attorney says Saugus man is compulsive shoplifter

LYNN – A judge set $2,500 cash bail and ordered a Saugus man held on prior charges after police arrested the man for shoplifting and found he had defaulted on 12 other open larceny cases.”Essentially, I think his record speaks for itself,” said Assistant District Attorney Doug Sheehan Wednesday. “He remains a danger to any purveyor of goods in the Commonwealth.”Matthew F. Pezzarossi, of 177 Winter St. #3, Saugus, was arrested and charged with shoplifting by asportation, third offense; and warrants; at 6:04 p.m. Tuesday.A plea of not guilty was entered on Pezzarossi’s behalf at his arraignment in Lynn District Court Wednesday.Sheehan said Sears employees reported to police at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday that a man had left the store at the Square One Mall without paying for a chainsaw.Employees gave police the license plate number of the man’s car, and police identified the male as Pezzarossi and arrested him shortly thereafter, Sheehan reported.Sheehan said arresting officers learned Pezzarossi had 12 default warrants – among which there were three open cases in Lynn – for charges including larceny and different types of shoplifting.Sheehan requested $5,000 cash bail and that the court revoke bail in the open cases from Lynn, meaning Pezzarossi would be held for up to 60 days.Court-appointed defense attorney Christopher Nihan said Pezzarossi had a “compulsion in these types of actions.” Nihan requested Pezzarossi be allowed to pay restitution and be placed on pre-trial probation to get help with his compulsion.Lynn District Court Judge Stacey Fortes said that she found Pezzarossi “a danger to the community,” and ordered $2,500 cash bail. She also revoked bail in the open cases in Lynn.Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].