A member of a ring that stole copper and other metals from Front Range businesses was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison by an Adams County judge.
Timothy Allan Nolan, 38, was indicted by the Colorado state grand jury in February. At the time, investigators alleged that Nolan and four others stole more than 22,500 pounds of copper wire and pipes and nearly 10,000 pounds of other metals from the businesses.
The indictment alleged the crime ring sold the metal to recycling companies for more than $28,000.
The thefts occurred in Denver, Longmont and Northglenn. The thieves caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage in the process of stealing the metals.
At the time of the indictment, authorities said it was the latest example of a rise in copper thefts driven by the soaring price of copper.
In announcing Nolan’s sentence today, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers spoke about the proliferating rate of copper thefts.
“Theft of copper has become a significant problem in Colorado, and this case reflects the fact that law enforcement and the courts are reacting appropriately,” Suthers said. “Mr. Nolan has received a proper punishment for his part in these crimes, and justice appears to have been served.”
Three of Nolan’s codefendants – Gary Duane Buechler, 29; Sarah “Sally” Smith, 36; and Nicole Renee Wight, 30 – have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
The final defendant, Todd Wallace Gay, 38, pled guilty and will be sentenced Aug. 28.
Prosecutors from Boulder and Adams county worked with the attorney general’s office to prosecute Nolan, according to Nate Strauch, spokesman for Suthers.
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
