Three charged in theft of telephone line
Three people are behind bars after police said they stole about 450 feet of telephone line in Luzerne Township last week.
Charges were filed against David Emery, 41, and Arram Nelson, 28, both of Brownsville, and Kalen Barkley, 39, of Grindstone on Saturday.
State police charged the three following an investigation Friday along Rush Run and Telegraph roads in Luzerne Township where they discovered that 450 feet of telephone lines were cut down and removed, causing $4,229 in damage to Verizon Wireless.
According to police, evidence recovered at the scene led them to the men, and troopers seized telephone wire and bolt cutters from them.
Emery, Nelson and Barkley were arrested on Monday, arraigned and all lodged in the Fayette County jail.
All three were charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft of secondary metal, theft of property and receiving stolen property.
Emery was also charged with conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime with intent. His bail was set at $10,000.
Nelson’s bail was set at $7,500, and Barkley’s bail was set at $5,000.
All three are scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Michael Defino Jr. at 8:30 a.m. May 1.