Man sentenced for copper, auto thefts
WAYNESBURG – A Waynesburg man who stole two vehicles and used them to commit a burglary and purchase drugs was sentenced Monday to 4 to 23 ½ months in Greene County jail.
Christopher Paul Moore, 26, of 375 Ross St., used a key to enter Waynesburg Auto Sales July 13 and steal a key for a Ford F150 truck he drove to make a drug purchase. Moore obtained the key to the building when he was employed by the former property owner. Moore also took keys for other vehicles when he entered the auto sales business on East Greene Street.
On April 4, 2013, Moore used one of the other keys to steal a Honda Civic parked in front of the residence of Dave and Kayla Balint in Waynesburg. Kayla Balint is the owner of Waynesburg Auto Sales. Moore used the Civic to commit a burglary at Wall’s Sanitation in Blacksville, W.Va.
Moore’s alleged accomplice, William Harvey Orndoff Jr. of Waynesburg, was with him when he broke into Wall’s Sanitation and stole copper from the business, police said. According to court records, Orndoff was charged with six counts of receiving stolen property and three counts of conspiracy to receiving stolen property and released June 11, 2013, on $10,000 unsecured bond. His case was scheduled for a jury trial April 23. However, Orndoff failed to appear for jury selection April 22. There is an active bench warrant for his arrest in the case and for failure to appear.
Moore claimed Orndoff allowed him to hide the Civic, which was damaged beyond repair, on Ordnoff’s father’s property, according to a criminal complaint.
Moore told police he burned the casing off the copper wire and twice sold it to Canon-Mac Metals in Houston. The first sale of 375 pounds of copper netted Moore $800. The second sale brought $550 to Moore, who said he split the proceeds from both sales with Orndoff.
Moore pleaded guilty April 21 to eight counts of theft by unlawful taking, two counts of receiving stolen property, and two counts of burglary of a structure not adapted for overnight accommodations.
He was fined $450 plus court costs and fees and ordered to perform 275 hours of community service. Moore must pay restitution to Waynesburg Auto Sales of $7,800. As a special condition of sentencing, he is forbidden from contact with Balint and family members and to remain away from her residence and business.
Restitution is to be made jointly and severally with Orndoff, subject to Orndoff’s right to a trial by jury. In the event Orndoff is found not guilty of the charges, Moore would be solely responsible for paying the entire restitution amount.