FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Three Fayette County residents are facing charges after authorities say they broke into a Verizon construction site on Fire Tower Mountain near Ansted, stole tools and fiber wire, and caused more than $10,000 in damage to telecommunications equipment.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched to the Verizon tower site on the morning of May 27 following a report of a theft.
When Corporal Coty W. Pierson arrived, he spoke with Curtis Randoff, a foreman for STG Communications, a contractor working on behalf of Verizon. Randoff reported that someone had broken into the crew’s storage trailer, stolen several Milwaukee power tools and batteries, cut a lock off a secured gate, and stolen approximately 60 feet of fiber and copper wire from the tower site.
Randoff told deputies that the evening before, between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., a red ATV carrying a man and woman had approached the work area before quickly turning around after seeing workers on site. He said he became suspicious only after arriving the next morning and discovering the theft.
Investigators later learned a surveillance camera located at a nearby Fayette County 911 communications tower overlooked the construction area. After obtaining footage from Fayette County 911 personnel, deputies reportedly observed a male arriving on an ATV shortly after the construction crew left the mountain.
According to the criminal complaint, video footage showed a second red ATV carrying a male and female passenger arriving moments later. Investigators say the first suspect retrieved bolt cutters from the second ATV before walking toward the Verizon construction site.
Several hours later, both ATVs reportedly returned to the area, with one ATV pulling a trailer believed to have been used to transport the stolen property.
Corporal Pierson said he was able to identify the three individuals in the footage as Joshua Underwood, Jason Koch and Annie Koch, all of whom were known to him from previous encounters.
Deputies later traveled to Underwood’s residence, where he was advised of his Miranda rights and questioned about the incident.
According to the complaint, Underwood admitted to cutting the lock, entering the work site, stealing tools from the trailer, and cutting sections of fiber wire. He allegedly told investigators that Jason and Annie Koch later returned with a trailer, and the group loaded the stolen wire and tools before leaving the mountain.
Authorities recovered the stolen tools and portions of the wire from Underwood’s residence.
Deputies then went to the Koch residence, where Jason and Annie Koch were also advised of their rights and interviewed. According to investigators, both admitted they accompanied Underwood to the mountain and assisted in transporting the stolen property. Additional wire was recovered from the residence.
The recovered property was returned to the construction crew after being positively identified.
Investigators later spoke with Verizon project manager Greg Sharrac, who requested charges be pursued. Sharrac told deputies that while approximately 60 feet of hybrid wire valued at $1,200 was stolen, roughly 400 feet of fiber wire valued at $8,252 was damaged during the theft. Additional losses included a damaged gate lock and approximately $1,300 worth of stolen Milwaukee tools.
The total reported loss and damage exceeded $10,700.
Authorities said warrants would be sought against Joshua Underwood, Jason Koch and Annie Koch in connection with the incident.
The theft occurred in the Ansted area of Fayette County.
