Rodney Mayberry

Dunklin County's Assistant Prosecutor, Jonce Chidister, credits honest people throughout the community for helping to resolve a substantial portion of the recent copper thefts occurring in Kennett and neighboring communities.

According to Chidister, the reason the majority of copper thieves are apprehended is because of information provided by concerned citizens of Dunklin County.

"We encourage people in the area to report to authorities any suspicious activity they witness, specifically regarding the recent cases surrounding copper theft," Chidister said. "Information provided by the concerned citizens of this county is how many of these cases are solved."

Last week a resident of Kennett reported to police that he witnessed a male subject breaking into the local City, Light, Gas and Water treatment plant in an attempt to steal a spool of copper wire.

The residents tip made it possible for officers to catch the offender and for the prosecutor's office to file criminal charges against the thief.

Most recently, on Tuesday, another concerned citizen witnessed a similar event in which a suspicious vehicle appeared to be lurking in local fields near landowners irrigation pivots.

The concerned citizen called the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office and a deputy was dispatched to the vicinity in which the caller reported seeing the suspicious truck, a Ford ranger.

Deputies made contact with the vehicle and identified the occupants as Rodney A. Mayberry, 27, and a juvenile suspect.

After questioning the juvenile and Mayberry, who reported both a Kennett and Wardell address, deputies obtained permission to search the vehicle and found copper wire consistent with the ground wire found on utility poles.

Further questioning resulted in the two suspect revealing that they, along with Teresa Mayberry, 35, of Kennett, had removed the wire from local utility poles belonging to Pemiscot County Co-op.

The juvenile was taken into custody and turned over to juvenile authorities.

According to the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department, both Rodney and Teresa Mayberry were arrested and incarcerated in the Dunklin County Justice Center for their role in the crimes.

Chidister said the two adults were charged with a Class C felony for theft/stealing of property valued more than $500 but less than $25,000, and a Class D felony for property damage in the first degree.

Both parties bond has been set at $25,000, cash only.

The Mayberry's will appear in court on Friday, Jan. 11 before Judge John Speilman.

If convicted, both parties could potentially face up to seven years in prison for the felony stealing offense, and up to four years in jail for the property damages charges.