Man accused of stealing scrap metal from I-75 construction site

LEBANON — A Kentucky man was indicted Friday by a Warren County grand jury for allegedly stealing scrap metal from an Interstate 75 construction site in November.

Thomas John Pennington, 36, of Waco, Ky., was indicted on misdemeanor charges of theft, criminal trespass, and possession criminal tools. The grand jury declined to indict him on a charge of felony theft, according to Assistant Prosecutor Gary Loxley.

Pennington is accused of taking more than 2,300 pounds of scrap metal that belonged to the company doing the highway work along I-75 near Franklin Twp., just north of the Ohio 73 exit.

Ohio Highway Patrol troopers from the Lebanon post were called at about 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9 to investigate two suspicious men wearing fluorescent traffic vests and loading scrap metal into a pickup truck, according to a police report.

As troopers arrived, one of the men fled from the scene, but Pennington was apprehended. A white 1997 Chevrolet pickup truck that was registered to Pennington was found with 2,300 pounds of scrap metal in the bed of the truck, along with several metal-cutting tools and receipts from various scrap yards, troopers said.

Loxley said the case will be sent back to Franklin Municipal Court for disposition.

Pennington, who was arrested Nov. 9 and released from the Warren County Jail on Nov. 12, is scheduled for arraignment at 2 p.m. Jan. 28 in Franklin Municipal Court.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or erichter@coxohio.com.

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