Arizona Man Sentenced for Theft of Storm Gates

A Tucson, Ariz., man who sold storm grates stolen from around Pima County has been sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to pay more than $108,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors say 22-year-old Matthew McClellan and a co-defendant began stealing grates from private businesses and public streets throughout the county last May and sold them to scrap metal yards.

Following their arrest last August, the men told authorities they wore traffic vests to divert suspicion from their activities and put up barricades around the holes for safety.

The Arizona Daily Star says the men split about $3,000 for the grates.

McClellan and 23-year-old Douglas Maness both pleaded guilty to facilitation of trafficking stolen property.

McClellan was sentenced Wednesday while Maness still is awaiting sentencing.