The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department in Biloxi, Mississippi, announced on Thursday the arrest of eight individuals on felony charges of receiving stolen property. The arrests followed an ongoing investigation into the theft of copper from AT&T lines in Harrison, Stone, and Hancock counties.
AT&T reported several incidents of lines being cut and copper stolen over the last few months. Investigators traced the stolen copper to scrap companies where it was sold. Additional arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues.
The arrested individuals are:
Kristopher Gibson, 43
Robert Barnett III, 35
Jessie Ray, 34
David Crenshaw, 43
Randy Smith, 52
Tom Martin, 53
Trevor Lykins, 32
Malcolm Franklin, 18
Gibson, Ray, Smith Sr., Martin, Lykins, and Franklin were booked into the Harrison County Adult Detention Center and held on a $15,000 bond each, set by Judge Brandon Ladner.
Crenshaw and Barnett are also being held at the detention center with bonds set at $50,000 each, pending further proceedings.