The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Two held in phone line theft





Two Letcher County men have been charged with stealing copper wire and damaging a telephone pole near the top of Pine Mountain.

James D. Sturgill, 18, of 1703 Pine Creek, Mayking, and Alvin Lee Johnson Jr., 19, of 868 Limestone Drive, Whitesburg, were arrested Oct. 8 by Letcher County Sheriff’s Deputy Tim Miller. Both men were charged with theft by unlawful taking (more than $300) and with first-degree criminal mischief.

Sheriff ‘s Dept. Sgt. Brian Damron said some residents of Limestone Drive, located off U.S. 119 on the Whitesburg side of Pine Mountain, reported a loss of phone service and told police that two men were seen walking along Limestone Drive carrying some type of wire.

Miller found a 30-foot piece of telephone wire behind Johnson’s home, which is located on a Pine Mountain site formerly occupied by a large limestone quarry.

“This is a direct reflection of a community helping when a crime has been committed,” said Damron. “We appreciate the community’s involvement.”


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