Officials hope conviction slows area copper thefts
By LEWIS DELAVAN News editor

Allen Hunter

Copper thefts have been a serious problem in Saline County and elsewhere.

Local officials hope a recent conviction will help slow those thefts.

Allen Hunter, 25, of Benton, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by Circuit Judge Grisham Phillips.

Hunter pled guilty to two counts of theft of property stemming from two separate copper thefts.

The first copper theft was last April 4 at a site of a home under construction at 2810 Prysock Road. Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady said Hunter and a co-defendant, Randall Lloyd, broke into the home and took more than $1,400 in copper and caused more than $500 damage.

The second copper theft occurred Aug. 7 at Home Depot in Benton. Hunter and co-defendant Jonathan Owens loaded up a shopping cart with more than $1,400 worth of copper and left the store. Home Depot's copper was recovered.

"We hope copper thieves get this message, this is an invasive and senseless act and you could go to prison when you get caught," said Casady.

Steve Gabbard, president of the Saline County Homebuilders Association, said the association is "very pleased with the sentence." Gabbard hopes "the prosecuting attorney, the sheriff, and Benton and Bryant police departments continue to aggressively pursue these criminals who do thousands of dollars of damage homes and risk going to prison for a hundred bucks worth of copper."

Casady said thieves have damaged houses by punching through sheetrock to remove installed copper.

Hunter was sentenced to 15 years in prison and was ordered to pay restitution. Hunter also pled guilty to criminal mischief and breaking and entering charges, as well as felony battery in an unrelated case. Charges on Owens remain pending. The status of Lloyd's case was unavailable at press time.

Representing the state were deputy prosecuting attorney Carrie M. Robertson and deputy prosecuting attorney Brian Clary.