Here's the "rest of the story" As published from the Greenville Daily News: Pair sentenced in farm irrigation copper theft
Elisabeth Waldon Staff Writer STANTON - Two area people have been sentenced after being caught in the act of stealing copper from farm irrigation equipment while a third person still is awaiting trial. Tonya Shirley Dow, 32, of Cedar Springs, appeared Thursday along with her attorney, Thomas Wilson of Carson City, before Judge Charles Miel in 8th Judicial Circuit Court in Stanton. She pleaded guilty to larceny of from $1,000 to $20,000 earlier this year and was sentenced Thursday to two years probation and at least $1,000 restitution. Dow already has served 61 days in the Montcalm County Jail in Stanton. "My client realizes that this is an opportunity to redeem herself from all this," Wilson said. "I believe she is going to do OK." Meanwhile, Allen L. Harding, 56, of Stanton, also pleaded guilty to the same charge earlier this year and later was sentenced to from 16 months to five years in prison. Karl P. Gasper, 48, of Edmore, pleaded not guilty and has an April 23 court date for a motion to suppress his confession. His trial is slated for June 17. According to Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Douglas McFadden, the charges stem from a Jan. 7 incident at Peterson Farms in Home Township when police caught the three stealing copper from irrigation equipment on a farm. Dow was the driver. County Prosecutor Andrea Krause said police were fortunate to catch them. "There was police surveillance that just happened to be in the right place at the right time," she said. The Michigan State Police Lakeview post was in charge of the investigation.
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