by peter e. bortner
Douglas Sexton, one of two men charged in the theft of chain-link fencing belonging to the Borough of Minersville in May, admitted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he helped commit the crime.
Sexton, 30, of Lebanon, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft before Judge John E. Domalakes. Prosecutors withdrew charges of receiving stolen property and defiant trespass.
Domalakes accepted the plea, and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and Sexton, sentenced the defendant to spend 23 months on probation and pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.
Minersville police charged Sexton and his father-in-law, Douglas R. Rogers, 53, of Myerstown, with stealing the fencing about 8 p.m. May 14 from the borough storage lot and compost site along North Delaware Avenue.
Police said they received a telephone call about a possible theft at the site. Police said that when they responded, they saw Sexton and Rogers tying down the fencing in the bed of a red pickup truck.
Rogers tried to drive the truck out of the lot but was stopped before he could do so, according to police.
Police said each man admitted the fencing came from the lot.
Assistant District Attorney Robert M. Reedy said Wednesday that the fencing was recovered at the scene, so neither Sexton nor Rogers owes any restitution.
Rogers still has charges of theft, receiving stolen property and defiant trespass pending before the county court.
Sexton said little during Wednesday's hearing except to indicate that he understood the consequences of his guilty plea and that he was making it voluntarily.