Two people have pleaded guilty and paid fines after admitting to stealing materials from a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation facility in Schuyler County earlier this year.
According to DEC investigators, the case began in January 2025 when the agency’s Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation responded to reports of repeated vandalism at the site. Fresh footprints in the snow suggested items had recently been taken from several buildings on the property.
Investigators quickly traced the theft to a scrap metal recycling facility about 10 miles away. Staff at the yard reported that two people had just attempted to sell copper and brass materials matching items missing from the DEC site.
When investigators arrived, they found the suspects’ truck still on the scale. The pair admitted to stealing copper wire and a brass fixture earlier that day. According to receipts from the scrap yard, the items were valued at $190.57.
Both individuals were charged with third-degree burglary, a felony, and misdemeanor petit larceny.
The cases were resolved this fall:
- Sept. 11: One defendant pleaded guilty to felony attempted burglary and received five years of probation, along with $375 in fees.
- Oct. 23: The second defendant pleaded guilty to misdemeanor petit larceny and was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $75 in fees.
The DEC says the investigation closed out a series of thefts and vandalism reported at the facility.
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