Copper thief gets three-year sentence

A Desloge, Missouri, man charged with stealing copper has been sentenced to prison for his role in the crime.

James E. Mahurin, 43, pleaded guilty Sept. 18 in Perry County Court to second-degree burglary and theft of wire/electrical transformer or other device/pipe. He was sentenced to three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each count, to run concurrently.

Mahurin also had been charged with first-degree trespassing, attempted theft wire/electrical transformer or other device/pipe and two counts of first-degree property damage.

The first theft took place June 7 at Keifer Building Supply in Perry County. Mahurin cut down the electrical wire that ran from the building to the electrical pole. About 880 feet of copper wire was stolen.

A second theft took place June 11 at Ready Mix Concrete in Perry County. Wires were found to be cut at the building and the electrical pole, a probable-cause statement filed in the case said. One wire was cut at the pole, and during the attempt to cut the second wire, it grounded, causing an electrical flash explosion and possibly burning the person attempting the cut.

Surveillance footage of a truck used at the scene of the crime led to a home in Cape Girardeau belonging to Charles Smith.

Mahurin was found at the home and appeared to have burns on his lower arms, knees and face.

Smith allowed a search of the home. During the search, a Perry County sheriff's deputy found a pair of Nikes belonging to Mahurin with tread consistent with that of shoe impressions on a concrete pad at Ready Mix Concrete.

The deputy also found insulation cut and burned from copper wire, the markings on which were consistent with the wire stolen from Kiefer Building Supply, the probable-cause statement said.

kwebster@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3646

Pertinent address:

3281 South Highway 51, Friendly Valley, Mo.

2172 S. Perryville Blvd., Perryville, Mo.