Virginia Man Faces June Sentencing in Rail Wire Thefts

A June sentencing is set for a Mineral, Va., man convicted of stealing wire that controls lights and signal arms at railroad crossings.

Donald Cosby pleaded guilty in March to grand larceny, malicious destruction of a railroad signal and trespassing. He’s scheduled to be sentenced June 17 in Louisa County Circuit Court.

Police say Cosby took about 2,000 feet of railroad signal wire and sold the copper to a scrap yard.

Louisa County Sheriff’s Office Detective Mark Stanton tells WRIC-TV that the thefts could have put people’s lives in jeopardy because the signals stopped working.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Rusty McGuire says Cosby rode a bus to and from the railroad sites. A video surveillance system showed Cosby bringing the wire onto the bus in buckets.