BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – UPDATE 8/8/2025 4:26 PM: Raleigh County Sheriff Frank Priddy has announced a fourth arrest in connection with a recent surge in phone wire thefts across the county.
On August 7, 2025, the Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau continued its investigation into thefts targeting wire from utility poles — crimes that have been on the rise in recent months.
Detectives recovered evidence from Wood’s Recycling in Beaver, leading to charges against Jason Pauley.
Pauley is accused of selling 1,008 pounds of stolen copper, allegedly receiving $2,294 in exchange. He faces two felony counts of transferring stolen property.
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UPDATE 8/8/2025 12:47 PM: A third suspect has now been charged in connection with the thefts.
Owner of Wood’s Recycling in Beaver, Lewis Richmond, has been arrested and charged with 17 felony counts of receiving stolen property.
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The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office has charged two individuals in connection with a series of phone wire thefts that have plagued the county in recent months.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office conducted an extensive investigation on August 7, 2025, recovering thousands of pounds of stolen copper wire and linking suspects to the sale of stolen property.
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According to Sheriff Frank Priddy, the investigation focused on the illegal removal and resale of phone wire from utility poles across the county.
Evidence gathered at Wood’s Recycling in Beaver, led to the arrest of Charles Stanley and Douglas McMillion.
Charles Stanley has been charged with 10 felony counts and four misdemeanor counts of transferring stolen property.
Detectives recovered 6,986 pounds of copper wire linked to Stanley, with an estimated value of $20,136. Stanley is currently on federal probation.
The victim in the case is Frontier Communications.
In a separate but related arrest, Douglas McMillion has been charged with two felony counts of transferring stolen property. Detectives linked him to 991 pounds of copper, worth approximately $2,875.
Sheriff Priddy and Chief Deputy Frankie Shelton commended the work of the Detective Bureau, particularly Cpl. R. McDaniel, for their tireless efforts in pursuing the investigation.
“We would like to remind all citizens that cases do take time,” said the Sheriff’s Office. “We will continue to work and get justice for all cases to make Raleigh County a better place for all.”
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
