BEN CREEK, WV (LOOTPRESS) — Two women are facing multiple felony charges after deputies say they were caught stealing copper and damaging property at a closed coal mine office in Mingo County.
According to the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a tip on June 21 that Miranda Cline and Cynthia Gwen Cline were seen leaving the area of Twisted Gun Golf Course Road carrying a large amount of copper wire. Officers, already familiar with abandoned buildings in the area, investigated and discovered signs of forced entry at an office building located at 766 Bens Creek Road.
Inside, deputies found extensive damage including broken doors and removed utilities such as computer monitors, internet cables, and other copper wiring. Outside, they discovered a power line had been cut near a utility pole connected to the building.
Officers later located Miranda Cline walking near the area, but she denied any involvement. Cynthia Gwen Cline was not initially located. However, during a follow-up, deputies found a pile of copper wire—matching what was taken from the office—burning at her residence.
When deputies later located and interviewed Cynthia Gwen Cline, she admitted during a Mirandized statement that she acted as a lookout while Miranda Cline broke a window, entered the building, and began stripping copper using tools. After leaving the stolen material at Miranda’s residence, Cynthia admitted to returning and taking some of the copper to her own home, where she burned it.
Representatives from Lexington Coal Company and Frontier Communications confirmed the building and cables were their property. The total damage was estimated to exceed $5,000.
As a result of the investigation, Miranda Cline has been charged with:
-
Breaking and Entering
-
Destruction of Property
-
Grand Larceny
-
Conspiracy to Commit a Felony
-
Third-Degree Arson
All charges are classified as felonies under West Virginia law.
