New Bedford Whaling Museum artifact thief sentenced to prison

Lina PortmanMay 28, 2024

0 3 minutes read

NEW BEDFORD — The man who stole 190 artifacts from the New Bedford Whaling Museum worth $150,000 while working as a maintenance worker was sentenced Friday to three to five years in state prison.

Robert M. Burchell, 44, pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to one count of theft over $1,200 and six counts of theft under $1,200.

He must serve two years of probation after his prison term and pay restitution to the pawn shops in New Bedford and Taunton where he sold some of the items.

Judge William White Jr. asked Burchell if he had anything to say before sentencing.

Robert Burchell scrapes off the paint of the small white whale, usually found at the entrance to the Whaling Museum, before applying a fresh coat of paint in this Standard Times archive photo. In the background is a set of tiles depicting various Azores islands and the iconic boats made there.

Burchell apologizes to Museum CEO and staff

Burchell turned to face the courtroom where Amanda McMullen, president and CEO of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, sat.

“I would like to apologize to the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Amanda, I am truly sorry for what I did. And to the entire Whaling Museum, I am truly sorry. I hope you find it in your hearts to strength to forgive me. I am really sorry.

Deputy Prosecutor Michael Scott said most of the items were recovered and returned to the museum, although 30 remain missing and six were melted down or destroyed.

He made less than $14,000 for the stolen items

He said Burchell made $13,871 from the thefts.

How it started:“Suspect in $75,000 artifact theft from Whaling Museum 'seemed friendly.'” How he got caught.

Scott said Burchell was hired at the Museum in late 2021 as a maintenance worker.

He had keys and general access to all areas, including where artifacts and historical items were stored.

About a year later, he began stealing and selling items, including paper money, gold jewelry, antique pocket watches and other items, to a coin and jewelry store in West Bridgewater.

He told the store owner he found the items while cleaning out a relative's storage unit.

Store owner became suspicious after Scrimshaw sold

The owner became suspicious when Burchell sold him scrimshaw carvings.

The owner went online and learned that Burchell worked for the museum and that the pieces came from the museum. He called the police.

Burchell was approached by Museum police, Scott said, and essentially caught in the act.

He admitted committing the thefts in a later police interview and selling them at local pawn shops and jewelry stores.

Burchell violated the trust placed in him

Scott said Burchell was remorseful for what he had done, but had a significant criminal past and had violated the trust placed in him.

“He was given a chance to move his life in a positive direction, but he blew it,” Scott said.

Attorney Brian Fahy, who represented Burchell, said he had a difficult upbringing and developed a drug addiction after being prescribed painkillers.

Burchell is remorseful for the thefts

But Burchell felt deep remorse about the thefts, Fahy said. “He is there to accept his responsibilities.”

Investigation:Whale tooth portends $150,000 theft at New Bedford Whaling Museum

Judge White said Burchell did not understand where he was working.

“People don't go to the Museum just to walk around. They go there to learn and be inspired,” he said.

The Whaling Museum provides access to history – “one of the doors through which we can look”.

Every stolen object has its own story

He added: “The objects, the watches, the jewelry, the historical currency, the artifacts, they are all direct links to the past.”

Burchell betrayed the trust of those charged with their care.

“The people who hired you expected the best from you and you took advantage of it,” he said.

White said he hoped Burchell had read the victims' letters from Whaling Museum staff. They note that each of the elements comes with a personal story.

“None of the items you pawned were junk. There were valuable stories associated with each of those items.”

New Bedford Whaling Museum Chief Curator Naomi Slipp wrote, “Every object has a story. Each artifact in our collection is linked to a person. »

The artifacts come with fascinating stories

One of the objects was not just a scrimshaw, she added. It was the product of a young whaler on its first voyage, depicting the capture of a sperm whale off the coast of New Zealand in 1836.

A miniature portrait of a sea captain on ivory dating from 1810 was a keepsake he made for his wife and children in case he was lost at sea.

One of the pocket watches commemorated a ship captain's daring help in rescuing Irish revolutionaries imprisoned in an Australian prison in 1876, Slipp said.

Burchell apologizes to Museum CEO and staff

Lina Portman

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