LINCOLN COUNTY, Maine — Steve French, 54, of China, Maine, is facing new felony charges following an incident involving cable theft in Jefferson on May 2, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
French has been charged with theft, a Class B felony, and aggravated criminal mischief, a Class C felony. Authorities say the theft occurred on Gardiner Road near St. Giles’ Episcopal Church and matched the pattern of previous incidents. Investigators noted that a ladder and a “shepherd’s hook” were used to pull down the cables before they were cut.
The force on the cables was reportedly so strong during the Jefferson incident that it snapped the top of a utility pole, bringing down electrical wires. Damage from the event is estimated at over $10,000.
French is currently being held at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
On May 9, French was previously arrested along with two others—Reggie French, 49, and Jennifer Decosta, 44, both also from China, Maine. The trio was caught allegedly stealing cables on Jefferson Road (Route 126) in Whitefield.
The Sheriff’s Office suspects the group in multiple similar thefts throughout Maine’s midcoast region. Consolidated Communications estimates that the total damage and losses from the thefts exceed $230,000.
