PHILIPSBURG–Two men received suspended sentences with community service for stealing copper cables from a UTS transmitter site on Naked Boy Hill in Oyster Pond on July 10.
The Court of First Instance sentenced security guards Jonathan Ernesto Carty (28) and Ishael Morris (26) both to two months suspended, on two years’ probation, and 132 hours of community service.
Carty did not show up for Wednesday’s hearing, but Morris denied they had taken any copper cables or pipes from the site.
He told the Court he had been hiking with his friend Carty that day. Together, they had spent some time on top of Naked Boy Hill, during which they drank water and smoked some weed, while enjoying the view.
An information technology specialist had noticed that the lens of the surveillance camera at the UTS site was covered. While approaching the site to check what was the problem, he saw two men at the site. He informed the police, who arrested Carty and Morris while they were descending the hill. During a search of the rental car the men had been using officers found a heavy-duty cutter and a mask.
Morris, who stated that they had not seen any other men while they were on Naked Boy Hill, told the Judge they were at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The Prosecutor did not buy the suspects’ story and said he found it proven they had stolen copper with an estimated value of US $100,000. He added that he did not find it proven that the two had dismantled the UTS installation, but that they had taken metal that was there.
The Judge found theft legally and convincingly proven and sentenced the two suspects, who spent 16 days in pre-trial detention, according to the Prosecutor’s demand
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83843-two-men-sentenced-for-stealing-copper
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