WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A southeastern Kansas man has admitted pulling down a power pole in an attempt to steal copper wire, an act that knocked a radio station off the air for several hours.
The U.S. Attorney’s office says 39-year-old Jeffrey Blake, of rural Scammon, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of damaging an energy facility. He faces up to 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced April 30.
Prosecutors said Blake damaged equipment in Cherokee County owned by Heartland Rural Electric Co. and KKOW-AM around 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 7, 2011. An indictment noted that KKOW is part of the national emergency alert system.
Blake was arrested later after being held at gunpoint by a property owner who discovered him on his property and a copper coupling missing from his propane tank.
