Men charged with looting area water facilities
Gary A. Ross, 28, and Blair M. Cameron, 24, have been charged with felonies; bonds reduced.
Men charged with looting area water facilities Gary A. Ross, 28, and Blair M. Cameron, 24, have been charged with felonies; bonds reduced. Check out this story on zanesvilletimesrecorder.com: http://ohne.ws/1Gs4EtS
Patrick O'Neill, poneill@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com Published 12:44 p.m. ET March 11, 2015 | Updated 7:16 p.m. ET March 11, 2015
ZANESVILLE – Two men suspected of looting several area water departments pleaded not guilty Wednesday to multiple charges.
Gary A. Ross, 28, and Blair M. Cameron, 24, have been charged with several felonies, including vandalism, possession of criminal tools, and breaking and entering.
The duo allegedly broke into area water departments to steal scrap metal, damaging equipment in the process, Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor Ron Welch told the court. The most recent incident occurred Feb. 26, court records show.
Ross and Cameron, who were not employed when the reported thefts took place, had been held on $100,000 bond, but their attorneys argued the low-level, nonviolent offenses didn't warrant such a large amount. Welch asked for a continuance of bond, arguing the ongoing investigation could reveal more information pertinent to the case.
Muskingum County Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill poked holes in both men's excuses for not working. To Cameron, who said he'd resigned from his former job after 90 days because of inadequate wages, Cottrill asked: "Well how much were you making after you quit?"
The judge also questioned Ross' story that he felt compelled to quit a previous job after a spat with his wife.
Despite his inquiries about their employment history, Cottrill agreed to reduce bond to $10,000 for both men. Their bonds have not yet been posted.
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