Man charged in copper theft

A Cassville man is facing two felony charges for allegedly stealing thousands of feet of copper wire.

Justin Youngblood, born in 1989, of Cassville, is charged with felony stealing of $25,000 or more and second-degree burglary.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Jeremy Berner, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, Youngblood was interviewed on Oct. 30 in reference to items located in his vehicle during a traffic stop on the same day.

Detectives asked Youngblood where he got the large amount of copper in his vehicle, and Youngblood allegedly said he got it from old chicken houses not in use.

On Nov. 4, Berner made contact with a victim who reported 6,000 feet of electric copper wire was stolen from his three poultry houses.

The total value of the property damaged and stolen was $65,000.

Berner noted in the probable cause report that Youngblood has a history of fleeing and failed to appear at previous court hearings. He also said Youngblood was under the influence during the interview, allegedly admitting to fentanyl use.

Youngblood has multiple previous convictions for second-degree burglary, receiving stolen property and stealing.

Youngblood’s arrest warrantwasservedonNov. 20, and he is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond. A confined docket hearing was held on Monday in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke.

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