Published: July 15, 2008 11:02 am         

Barnes sentenced in copper theft

By Brad Kellar

Herald-Banner Staff



A Caddo Mills man has been sentenced to a year in state jail for stealing a large amount of copper from a vacant Greenville industrial plant.

James Cook Barnes III, 39, entered a guilty plea Monday to the charge of theft of property of the value of between $1,500 and $20,000 during a hearing in the 354th District Court. He was sentenced to 12 months in a state jail, with 215 days credit for time already served in the Hunt County Jail.

His alleged co-defendant, Robert Cody Farnam of Greenville, pleaded guilty to the same charge last December, had probation on an earlier charge revoked, and was also sentenced to state jail.

Barnes has remained in custody in the Hunt County Jail since his arrest, but had not been indicted on the charge.

Farnam and Barnes were arrested early on the morning of Dec. 5, 2007 and charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing a lightning arrestor system and two air conditioner units, all containing copper wire, from the rooftop of the former Master Foods building in the 6900 block of State Highway 66.

Barnes was facing a maximum sentence upon conviction of from 180 days to two years in a state jail and an optional fine of up to $10,000.