Police have filed charges against the second half of a suspected copper wire-thieving duo after the first half reportedly mentioned her role in the scheme at his recent District Court appearance.
According to court records, police in Saint Clair say that Michael Donaldson, 43, was before Magisterial District Court Judge David Plachko on Aug. 19 for a preliminary hearing on charges related to his role in an audacious scheme to steal copper wire from a utility pole when he revealed his partner’s role in the alleged crime.
Back on Aug. 9, police say they interrupted an alleged copper wire theft along Tunnel Rd. after an off-duty Saint Clair officer tipped them to suspicious activity at what they described as a known theft site.
The officer reported seeing a man with a reciprocating saw working to pull down Verizon cable, while a woman stood nearby.
Responding officers arrived on foot and found cable freshly cut and hanging from the line. They arrested Donaldson and Coleman at the scene without incident but initially only filed charges against Donaldson.
Investigators later reviewed surveillance video showing Donaldson attempting to remove cable for several minutes, with Antoinette Coleman, 45, of Pottsville, handing him a winch to assist.
At Donaldson’s preliminary hearing last week, he reportedly said in the presence of Saint Clair Police and Assistant District Attorney David Noon that it was Coleman’s idea to use the winch to pull down the wire from the pole.
That was enough for police to file felony conspiracy to commit theft and conspiring to receive stolen property charges against Coleman. She’s also facing a misdemeanor offense of possessing an instrument of crime. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 30.
Donaldson was jailed on felony attempted theft, receiving stolen property, and mischief charges. He posted $50,000 bond and was released from Schuylkill County Prison. on Aug. 14. Charges against him were held for Schuylkill County Court at his preliminary hearing.
Saint Clair Police said the incident was part of a year-long probe into the theft of large-capacity copper cable used to provide phone service to about 200 customers.
Verizon representatives estimated that damages and repair costs tied to the thefts have reached about $30,000.
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