A Haines man has been charged with two class C felonies connected to recent break-ins at the Haines Public Library.
William Dale Whittington is charged with two counts of burglary in the second degree.
One offense happened Sept. 5 and the other on Sept. 16.
Haines Police tied Whittington to the Sept. 16 incident after they found a shoe print at the scene of the break-in that matched Whittington’s shoes, charging documents said. Whittington initially denied any involvement, but after an interview with police, he admitted to the burglary.
Whittington then met with the library director and police and apologized for breaking into the library. He also returned stolen items, including a camera, a credit card and $14 cash, leftover from about $130 that had been taken.
The camera Whittington turned over connected him to the Sept. 5 burglary as well, according to charging documents.
Library director Patty Brown told police the camera was taken in the earlier break-in, not the Sept. 16 one that Whittington admitted to.
Whittington was charged with both burglaries.
He was arraigned Thursday.
The arraignment took place at the Haines police station because the local court was closed.
Magistrate Mary Kay Germain set bail for Whittington at $2,500.
Germain pointed out that Whittington is the defendant in multiple open cases besides the library break-ins.
Germain said the possibility that he would violate the law again was a quote “great concern.”
