IRON MOUNTAIN - Following investigations by the Iron Mountain Police Department and the Michigan State Police, four people have been charged by the Dickinson County Prosecutor's Office in connection with thefts of power cords from the snow making equipment owned by Pine Mountain Resort and Norway Mountain.
Justin Reed, 21, of Norway and Kyle Cootware, 21, of Norway, have each pleaded guilty to one count of Larceny between $1,000-$20,000 for the theft from Pine Mountain Resort that occurred on April 20, said a joint press release from the Iron Mountain Police Department, Michigan State Police and Dickinson County Prosecutor's Office.
Reed also pleaded guilty to larceny between $1,000-$20,000 for theft of power cords from Norway Mountain that occurred in early April.
The co-defendant in the theft from Norway Mountain is Jeremy Berger, who also pleaded guilty to larceny between $1,000-$20,000. Berger is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 7.
Reed and Cootware were also charged with breaking and entering following an investigation by the Iron Mountain Police Department into a theft from Brooks Electric that also occurred on April 20. Both Reed and Cootware pleaded guilty to breaking and entering with Intent for stealing copper wire from Brooks Electric. Reed is scheduled for sentencing in Circuit Court on July 30 on all charges. He is also convicted as a Habitual Offender.
In an unrelated investigation by the Michigan State Police, Cootware was also arrested and charged with breaking and entering into several camps in Norway Township. Cootware has been convicted of one count of breaking and entering with intent for those offenses. Cootware is scheduled for sentencing on all charges in Circuit Court on Sept. 7. Additional charges for the camp thefts are under review by the Prosecutor's Office, officials said.
In a second unrelated breaking and entering into Brooks Electric on May 4, the Iron Mountain Police Department, in cooperation with the Kingsford Public Safety Department, also arrested two individuals.
Thomas Loomis, 21, of Kingsford and Jesse Spanton, 21, of Iron Mountain, have both been charged by the Dickinson County Prosecutor's Office with breaking and entering. Loomis pleaded guilty as charged and admitted to taking numerous rolls of copper wire, the news release said.
He was sentenced in Circuit Court on July 19 to eight months in jail, 2 years of probation, fines, cost and restitution. The charge against Spanton is scheduled for arraignment in Circuit Court on Aug. 2.
The Dickinson County Prosecutor's Office and the investigating law enforcement agencies appreciate the cooperation and assistance of the property owners affected in these cases and in other recent thefts.