KIMPER, Ky. — A Pike County man is facing a felony theft charge, after police say they found him with more than $100,000 worth mine equipment at his house.
Kentucky State Police received a call Jan. 18 from the night watchman at McCoy Elkhorn Coal, located at Kimper. The guard reported a man who had been seen on the property on several occasions when copper wire and mining equipment had been stolen had returned overnight.
The guard also said he tried to follow the man when he left at 8 a.m., but lost him. However, he was able to provide police with the man’s license plate number and a description of his truck.
A state trooper recognized the truck as belonging to Timothy “Dusty” Maynard, 42, of Sidney, from previous encounters, and license plate records confirmed that.
Police went to Maynard’s home and immediately noticed a large amount of tools and junk metal on the porch. There was also a tarp covering a stack of other items, which later turned out to be 17 fire bridges and fire packs reported stolen from the mine.
Maynard admitted to being at the mine overnight, but said he was hunting. He also said he was fixing the equipment police found for a friend, who he was unable to name.
Company officials told police the equipment was valued at more than $116,000, not counting the damages caused by removing it.
Maynard was arrested and charged theft of more than $10,000, trespassing and criminal mischief.
