LYNN — At Tuesday evening’s Grand Army of the Republic Trustees’ meeting, member Vincent DeMore updated the board regarding a break-in at the museum that occurred on May 19 of 2025.
Ashlee Mootrey, 29, and Zachary Bridges, 39, were placed into custody by the Lynn Police Department after security cameras alerted the museum’s curator that people were in the building after hours.
The clerk magistrate bailed Mootrey and Bridges on a personal recognizance. The pair failed to appear for their arraignment, which raised the issue of their arrest. They were again released as well as defaulted.
Mootrey has pleaded guilty; the remainder of her case is the restitution. When the pair was taken into custody, Lynn PD did not identify one of the stolen uniform parts; they had assumed it was only a pair of pants.
The restitution for the pair of cavalry trooper pants, valued at approximately $100, will be finalized once approved by the court. However, Mootrey defaulted on her restitution hearing, and the next one will be on Feb. 3.
“I’m still waiting for confirmation on the return of the artifacts,” DeMore stated to the board. “They’re looking to get some consent from Mr. Bridges first to release them for evidence.”
In terms of Bridges, his pre-trial hearing was also held on Tuesday, and he will be returning to trial on March 5.
Outside of the break-and-enter, Mootrey and Bridges have faced multiple other charges in the city.
After being evicted from her home by the Housing Opportunities Management Enterprises, Inc. (H.O.M.E), for serious and repeated violations, including allowing Bridges to live with her, Mootrey was then arrested and charged with drug possession.
Later on in October, she would again be arrested and charged for destruction of property, breaking and entering, larceny, drug possession, and trespassing.
Bridges has also been arrested and charged with multiple counts of drug possession, shoplifting, and trespassing. After the break and entering the GAR museum, he was also arrested for larceny, trespassing, and breaking and entering again from another building.
Museum curator Wendy Joseph may be expected to testify during Mootrey’s restitution hearing in February.
“But we’re sort of standing by on that,” DeMore said at the end of the update.
