Fitzpatrick takes plea bargain, names two others in mining related theft at ICG mines.

Two persons accused of stealing mine equipment in 2003 and 2006 from the Brooks Run Coal Company site on Missouri Run near Erbacon entered guilty pleas to those thefts before Judge Jack Alsop in court proceedings held on January 17, 2006.

Jonathan A. Adkins (pictured), age 24, of Seth, Boone County, pled guilty to the felony crime of Grand Larceny in connection with the theft of over $16,000.00 in mining equipment from Brooks Run in December, 2003. Witnesses observed a red Ford Probe leaving the Brooks Run site and obtained its license plate, and then provided that information to Deputy Sheriff David Bender. That license plate was registered to Adkins.

Deputy Bender then secured the assistance of the State Police in Boone County to track down Adkins, and Adkins gave a voluntary statement to the State Police in January, 2004, admitting his guilt in the theft of the mining equipment. Adkins was later indicted by the May, 2004 Grand Jury here in Webster County.

After his indictment in 2004, Adkins was not apprehended by police until the Fall of2006. In exchange for his guilty plea, the State agreed to dismiss two other related charges against Adkins.

On April 2, 2007, Judge Alsop sentenced Adkins to a prison term of not less than one year but not more than ten years. Judge Alsop also entered a judgment against Adkins in the amount of $16,125.00 in favor of Brooks Run. He was represented by Webster Springs lawyer Joyce H. Morton. Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Hall represented the State, and commented that this crime would not have been solved but for the efforts of the concerned citizens who followed Adkins’ vehicle and obtained its license plate number for the police.

Jesse R. Gill (not pictured) , age 31, of Widen, Clay County, pled guilty on January 2, 2007 to the felony crime of Grand Larceny in connection with the theft of over $9,000.00 in mining equipment from Brooks Run in March and April of 2006. State Police Sergeant Travis Foreman solved this theft when witnesses reported to him that a red Dodge truck was seen leaving the Brooks Run site heading toward Birch River.

Sergeant Foreman, knowing that used mining equipment was being sold as salvage at Coffman’s Metals in Birch River, reviewed receipts at Coffman’s business which showed that Gill had sold for salvage several mining items during March and April, 2006. After he was contacted by police, Gill provided a voluntary statement to Sergeant Foreman admitting his guilt in the theft of the mining equipment.

On April 2, 2007, Gill was placed on probation for a period of four years and was ordered to pay the $9,135.00 to Brooks Run at the rate of $200.00 per month. Among other terms of his probation, Gill must perform 80 hours of community service for each year of his probation, and must pay the court costs, including the attorney’s fees of his court-appointed lawyer, Howard J. Blyler.