After at least two thefts of copper lines from telephone poles along Green Street Road near Brick Hill Road, Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps set up surveillance cameras Wednesday night.
A short time later as the sheriff was approaching the area, the cameras had picked up a person that appeared to be getting ready to cut more wire. Cripps says as he approached, 46-year-old Billy McCoy of Seven Hills Road in Vernon, attempted to flee in his truck but got stuck in the mud.
Cripps says during questioning McCoy admitted he was preparing to cut more of the copper wire from poles and had been responsible for the other two incidents.
McCoy was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail on two counts of criminal trespass and one count of felony theft. The sheriff notes McCoy was on pre-trial release for other pending criminal cases. In his report, Cripps asked that McCoy be held due to his other pending drug and theft charges and lengthy criminal record that makes him a threat to the community.
Cripps says it was not immediately clear if others were involved in the wire theft. The investigation is ongoing.
