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SALT LAKE CITY — Felony criminal mischief and theft charges were filed Thursday against a Salt Lake man accused of damaging eight power poles by cutting off the copper grounding wire.
Two second-degree felonies were lodged in 3rd District Court against Michael Hoffman, 20, of Salt Lake in connection with a Nov. 19-20 incident near California Avenue and Concord Street.
Witnesses said they saw two men cutting the ground wire to multiple utility poles in the area. Officers later found the pair, with Hoffman allegedly telling officers his companion had nothing to do with the damage or theft.
According to the charges, police found a duffel bag containing copper wire.
The man agreed to show police the eight poles in the area that had been damaged. An employee estimated it would cost a $1,000 per pole for the repairs.
Rocky Mountain Power spokesman Jeff Hymas said metal theft from the company is a persistent problem and can prove hazardous.
"Any attempts to steal wire from power poles or other electrical equipment is extremely hazardous," he said. "The thief is putting their own life at risk and endangering the lives of utility workers, as well as creating a hazard for the general public in some cases."
In the wake of 9/11, Hymas said extra emphasis has been placed on domestic security and safeguarding the public infrastructure system — such as the electrical grid or transportation networks.
"We take these types of crimes very seriously and work with law enforcement to identify the perpetrators and prosecute them where possible," Hymas said.
While stealing anything is illegal and ill-advised, Hymas added that to mess with the power utlity system is about as "unwise as it gets."
E-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com
