Employee charged with conspiracy in robbery of restaurant

LACONIA — Police have charged a female employee of D'Angelo's restaurant with three crimes related to the unarmed robbery of the business on December 29 allegedly committed by her friend Brian Moore of Plymouth.

Skyla Farquharson, 21, of 54 Morrill Street is facing one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, one count of criminal liability for the conduct of another, and one count of hindering apprehension.

That she was charged was made public yesterday at Moore's probable cause hearing, held in the 4th Circuit Court, Laconia Division.

During defense attorney Justin Littlefield's cross examination of a police officer, he asked if Farquharson had been charged and the officer said she had. Prosecutor Jim Sawyer chose not to address any charges against her during his direct examination of the officer regarding Moore's alleged role in the robbery.

On December 29, 2014 around restaurant closing time, Moore allegedly entered the back door of the restaurant when one of their young employees was taking out the trash. Moore allegedly grabbed the employee by the neck or collar and pushed his way into the store. He was wearing a mask.

The young employee jumped over the counter and left the store from a different exit and called the police.

Moore allegedly told Farquharson and a second employee to lay face down on the floor while he took between $700 and $800 from the register and fled.

Police said Moore had parked across the street near the loading dock of VIP auto parts.

At yesterday's hearing, police testified that the only place the police dog seemed to pick up a track was near that spot. The officer also testified that when Moore returned to the store to pick up Farquharson, the K-9 was already back in his cruiser.

Police also testified that on Moore's second interrogation by police and after being reminded he was under the original Miranda warning, that he confessed to the robbery after being told police had a warrant for a DNA swab to match with two fresh cigarette butts found near the back door.

In her interviews with police, Farquharson told them she had been joking with Moore about robbing the store in late November or early December but that the conversation started to become serious as it progressed. Police said yesterday they have a witness to at least one of those conversations.

Police asked Farquaharson if they would find text messages or other communication between her and Moore about business that day if they got a warrant to search her phone. She said they would.

Police also testified that Farquharson and Moore allegedly took the clothes he was wearing that night and disposed of some of them in Belmont and some of them in Plymouth.

Judge Jim Carroll found probable cause for the charges Moore faces — robbery and two counts of witness tampering and ordered bail remain at $5,000 cash.

The case against Moore will be bound over for possible indictment by a Belknap County grand jury. Farquharson remains free on bail and has not yet appeared in court.