Published: May 21, 2008 10:46 pm      

Six nabbed in separate copper wire theft cases

Two men in Raleigh, four in Wyoming face charges

Police in two counties arrested six people this week in separate cases involving copper theft.

Raleigh County authorities said two men cut down phone wire from a utility pole — and tore down the pole in the process — while trying to get their hands on valuable copper.

Because the thefts took place in the rural Coal River Valley, authorities noted the thefts could have caused residents to lose phone service and the ability to summon help in an emergency.

Steven Kent Campbell, 34, of Colcord, and Joey Ray Gunnoe, 23, of Naoma, were charged Wednesday with grand larceny, conspiracy to commit a felony and transfer of stolen property, sheriff’s Chief Deputy Steve Tanner said. Both men were released on bond.

In Wyoming County, four men were arrested and charged Tuesday evening in connection with the theft of copper from the Webster Apartment building in Mullens, according to Police Chief Ray Toler.

Alfred C. Lawson, of Oceana, was charged with grand larceny. He was released on $5,000 bond, Toler said.

Terry Clark Kennedy Jr., of Beckley, was charged with grand larceny, third-offense driving with a suspended license and driving without insurance. He remained at Southern Regional Jail Wednesday on $10,000 bond.

Terry Clark Kennedy Sr., of Beckley, was charged with grand larceny. He was released on $5,000 bond.

Wesley Scott Edwards, of Sophia, was charged with grand larceny, possession with intent to deliver and possession without a prescription. He remained at Southern Regional Jail on $30,000 bond, Toler said.

In the Raleigh County case, Tanner said Campbell and Gunnoe cut down and stole 750 feet of Verizon copper phone cable May 17 in the Colcord area. They also tore down the utility pole in the process. Replacing the cable and utility pole, plus labor, cost between $6,000 and $10,000.

After the thefts, the two burned off the insulation and took the copper to a local recycling center for sale, Tanner said. Detective Cpl. Jim Canaday and Detective Dave Stafford, he said, then followed several leads which led them to the suspects.

“It was absolutely outstanding police work,” Tanner said.

Constant copper thefts from utility poles and often-resulting phone service outages have plagued the Coal River Valley/Marsh Fork area. There, cell phone service is spotty, at best, and affected residents have no way to contact emergency personnel when service is lost.

Tanner believes phone outages in rural, isolated communities is downright life-threatening.

“Someone could have an accident while cutting the grass, have a heart attack, get lost — and there’s no way to contact an ambulance or fire department,” he said.

“It’s not like Beckley where you can make a cell call or run to the neighbor’s.”

With copper prices soaring, Tanner said, authorities do not see such thefts ending. However, the sheriff’s department is working with businesses like Verizon to take precautionary measures, like having more secure utility lines.

“With copper being at this value, it’s easy money, regardless of the dangers to other people,” he said. “We don’t have a solution yet, but we want to make it more difficult for the thieves.”

Wyoming County bureau chief Mary Catherine Brooks contributed to this story.

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