Raymond Bellavance Jr. Denies Burning Down Maine's Topless Grand View Coffee Shop

AUGUSTA, Maine -- A man is denying involvement in a fire that destroyed a small Maine town's topless coffee shop where his ex-girlfriend worked.

Raymond Bellavance Jr. testified for about four hours Thursday in his arson trial in Kennebec County Superior Court. He's charged with setting fire to the Grand View Coffee Shop in Vassalboro in June 2009.

The coffee shop featured topless waitresses.

Prosecutors say Bellavance burned it down because he was angry with an ex-girlfriend who worked there and had a relationship with the owner.

But Bellavance claims he wasn't jealous of his ex-girlfriend's other partners. The 50-year-old Augusta resident says witnesses who say he torched the shop are lying.

The trial has been going on for nine days. A judge says closing arguments could be held Friday.

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Comments

[cameron d]

09:01 PM on 01/02/2012

How much do you think a cup coffee cost there?

[Nicky Hardy]

03:19 AM on 12/30/2011

She stopped sharing the tips when she left him for the boss.

[Kay Nicks]

12:49 AM on 12/30/2011

Ahhh, thanks for keeping us abreast of developments in the trial....

[1 lucky dog]

09:12 PM on 12/30/2011

I loved the coffee there...Had plenty of milk for coffee:-)

[Kay Nicks]

11:12 PM on 12/30/2011

Udderly fascinating.....:)

[Kay Nicks]

09:49 AM on 01/02/2012

Sorry darlin', didn't mean to confuse you....don't be upset? ;)

[Benja0901]

08:36 PM on 12/29/2011

This was a place that really "perked" you up in the morning. Ding dang shame it was burned down.

[planetjeffy]

08:25 PM on 12/29/2011

I wonder if she left him with a burning sensation

[camanokat]

08:09 PM on 12/29/2011

Topless coffee shop? Not a good idea. Coffee is damn hot! Ouch!

[megandvc]

07:52 PM on 01/01/2012

I dont know about you, but I love the feeling of burning hot coffee dripping onto my sensitive bosoms first thing in the morning!

[camanokat]

08:10 PM on 01/01/2012

Year ago, I was ironing a blouse or something after getting out of the shower...I had not yet gotten dressed. I reached over to unplug the iron and rested my uh, bosom, briefly on the iron. OMG! Ouch! Nothing like a blistered nipple to make your day.

[Me atlast]

08:05 PM on 12/29/2011

Dang, wish we had one of those in Memphis.....