Man accused of copper-wire theft in Perry County

A Desloge, Missouri, man is facing charges after allegedly stealing copper at an Perry County business.

James E. Mahurin, 42, has been charged with second-degree burglary, theft of wire/electrical transformer or other device/pipe, 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, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

In that incident, Mahurin cut down the electrical wire from the building to the electrical pole. About 880 feet of copper wire was stolen.

Michael Welker, who rents the metal building on the property from Michael Kiefner to store farm equipment, told officers the building was secure when he left about 6:30 p.m. June 7, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case. When Welker returned about 5:50 p.m. June 8, he found the side door of the building open and a cover on the electrical panel had been removed.

The wire, which ran underground from a utility pole to the building, was cut at the pole and electrical panel and was pulled from the ground by an unidentified vehicle.

Nine 110-foot strands of MCM 350 copper wire, worth about $2,000, was stolen, the affidavit said.

A second theft took place June 11 at Ready-Mix Concrete.

Ready Mix driver Pete Huber told deputies he arrived at the shop about 6:30 a.m. that day and saw electrical wire had been cut and a utility pole damaged. Huber said he had locked up the shop the day before about 3:30 p.m.

Wires were found to be cut at the building and the electrical pole, the affidavit said. One wire at the pole was cut, and during the attempt to cut the second wire, it grounded, causing an electrical flash explosion and possibly burning the person attempting to make the cut.

Security video from MAZ Storage showed a red, four-door Chevrolet pickup truck traveling onto Ready Mix property June 11. The camera also revealed a flash of light "coming from an area consistent with the location of the utility pole damaged" on the property, the affidavit said.

The truck, which also was shown by security footage to be at the Moto-Mart and a McDonald's that morning, was traced to owner Charles Smith of Cape Girardeau.

A Perry County deputy went to Smith's address Wednesday morning and saw the Chevrolet truck parked at the home, according to the probable-cause statement. The deputy was greeted at the home by Smith and Mahurin, who appeared to have burns on both lower arms, his knees and his face.

Smith told the deputy he had been on vacation between June 7 and 14, during which time Mahurin stayed at his home and had access to the truck.

Mahurin agreed with Smith's statement but said he didn't have a reason why the truck would have been in the McDonald's in Perryville on June 11.

Smith consented to a search of his home, and the 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. Ready Mix staff had said tennis shoes were not allowed per company policy, the affidavit said.

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 affidavit said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Smith's great-nephew told the deputy Mahurin had called him a couple of weeks ago asking him to help him strip wire, and he discussed another conversation during which Mahurin told him he was going to the Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, area to steal wire and wanted his help when it got it back to Smith's residence.

Mahurin is in custody in Perry County, with his bond set at $15,000 cash only. No court date has been set.

kwebster@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

3281 South Highway 51, Friendly Valley, MO

2172 South Perryville Boulevard, Perryville, MO