A Wiscasset man has been charged with felony theft after he allegedly stole a homeowner's key and robbed a safe.

James Ezzell, 34, of Wiscasset was arrested by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly used his status as a weatherization expert to illegally gain access to a house and steal thousands of dollars.

According to the arrest documents, Ezzell was allegedly working for a weatherization company out of Newcastle when he was sent to a residence in Jefferson.

According to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Detective Terry Michaud's report, Ezzell was in the home's bathroom where he saw a key marked “safe” on Oct. 14.

Ezzell allegedly took the key and hid it near the house before returning to the house that night when he allegedly knew there would be no one home. Ezzell then allegedly unlocked the safe and took thousands of dollars.

When Ezzell was arrested Nov. 11, he was allegedly found with $3,000; after a search warrant was executed, Michaud reportedly found more than 400 Euros, which had allegedly come from the safe.

Ezzell was arrested and charged with Class B theft by unauthorized taking. He was sent to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset where he was held on $5,000 bail.

Ezzell will have a court date Dec. 17 at the Lincoln County Superior Court. As part of his bail conditions he is barred from returning to the Jefferson home, and isn't allowed to make contact with the homeowner.

If convicted, Ezzell could face up to 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine, as unauthorized taking of more than $10,000 is a Class B felony.