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Police nab suspect in church AC thefts
Justin Lewis
HUNTINGTON -- The Huntington Police Department said Monday they arrested a man who has admitted to a string of copper thefts from area churches and other locations.
Justin Lee Lewis, 25, of Huntington was arrested Thursday at a relative's house and charged with felony destruction of property. During interviews with police, Lewis admitted to stealing copper from air-conditioning units at nine different churches and a west Huntington apartment complex during the past six or seven months, according to a prepared release from the Huntington Police Department and another source within the Huntington Detective Bureau.
Lewis admitted to stealing copper on multiple occasions from Full Gospel Assembly Church, Lighthouse Baptist Church and Walnut Hills Church of the Nazarene, according to the release.
Other churches that were hit include Central Church of the Nazarene, Grace Gospel Church, Jackson Avenue Church of God, Madison Avenue Church of God, New Day Ministry and Our Lady of Fatima Church.
Huntington Police Lt. John Ellis said Lewis didn't steal the whole air-conditioning unit. Rather, he would take them apart, stripping them of their valuable copper and leaving the outer casings behind.
Lewis told police he would give the copper to acquaintances who would take it in to local scrap yards, Ellis said. Having numerous people sell the copper lowered suspicions that the items were stolen, Ellis said.
"Any time we can clear up a dozen or so cases like this, it's a good lick," Ellis said. "It makes you feel real good."
An official within the Detective Bureau said Lewis' arrest cleared approximately 18 cases. Latent prints were pulled from one of the church thefts, he said. It was matched to Lewis because his prints were already on file because he was on probation for an unrelated crime.
He had been found guilty in Cabell Circuit Court for attempt to commit a felony and was sentenced to at least one and no more than three years in prison. But on July 1, Lewis' sentence was suspended and he was placed on one year probation, according to court records. Three of the thefts took place since July 1, including Our Lady of Fatima, which incurred $5,000 in damage to its air conditioning unit.
The Rev. Fred McCarty, pastor of Walnut Hills Church of the Nazarene, said he heard about the arrest over the weekend from the pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church. McCarty's church has had copper stolen from air conditioners on three occasions in recent months. Damages have amounted to about $25,000. Luckily, the church's insurance company has covered most of the damages, he said.
"There's nothing we can do about the thefts now," he said. "We just pray that this young man can get help and that this serves as a life-changing event for him."
Reporter Bill Rosenberger contributed to this report.
