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ELKINS -- A Randolph County man who broke into a company's trailer and stole $750 of copper wire entered into a plea agreement this week.
Mark Jay Courtney, 47, of Elkins, appeared in Randolph County Magistrate Court on Monday and entered a plea agreement, pleading guilty to one count of misdemeanor petit larceny. Courtney was initially charged with one count of entry into a building other than a dwelling, a felony. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.
Courtney was represented in court by attorney Paul Gwaltney and the state was represented by Assistant Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Leckta Poling. Randolph County Magistrate Judge Tracy Harper presided over the hearing and accepted the plea.
Per West Virginia State Code, those convicted of misdemeanor petite larceny shall be confined in jail for no more than one year, fined no more than $2,500, or both, “in the discretion of the court.”
According to the criminal complaint, filed by Sergeant K. Shiflett with the Elkins Police Department, on July 3, Shiflett responded to a walk-in complaint at approximately 10 a.m. in reference to a burglary that occurred in the area of the Railroad Depot on Railroad Avenue.
The complainant advised, due to the recent break in of his company's box trailer, which is used as storage on project sites, he had placed cameras inside of the trailer, the criminal complaint states.
On July 3, the complainant received notifications that someone had been inside the trailer at approximately 5 a.m., according to court documents. Shiflett observed the camera footage and reportedly identified the subject in the video as Courtney.
In the video, Courtney is allegedly seen gathering several items, including spools of copper wire, and removing them from the trailer, the complaint states. The total value of the stolen copper wire is approximately $750.