Century Man Sentenced For Stealing Copper Wire From Former School

October 25, 2016

A Century man has been sentenced to jail for stealing heavy duty copper wiring from the former Century High School and a boat motor from a private residence.

Nicholas Depue, 33, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft and petit theft. He was sentenced to 270 days in the county jail, with credit for 142 days previously served while awaiting trail.

The site foreman responsible for the demolition of the old Century High School following February’s EF-3 tornado told investigators that 100 pounds of salvage copper wire was missing from inside one of the campus buildings.

Upon contacting Advance Environmental Recycling in Flomaton, Escambia County (FL)  Sheriff’s investigators found that Depue had sold the stolen wire for scrap.

Depue also removed a  wood covering over a window and broke the window to enter the Old Century High School. Inside the building he took about 28 pieces of heavy duty copper wiring about 6-8 feet in length valued at about $600. The wiring was then hid in bushes about 1,000 feet from the school.

When investigators contacted Depue at his Front Street home, he admitted to the theft and showed deputies where the wire was located. The wire was returned to the demolition company that removed the school.

Depue was also convicted of stealing a $4,000 Evinrude boat motor from a home on North Century Boulevard. The motor was attached to a 16-foot aluminum boat and was parked in the rear area of a yard. Depue then sold the boat motor to a Flomaton man for $800. The stolen boat motor was recovered.

Comments

7 Responses to “Century Man Sentenced For Stealing Copper Wire From Former School”

  1. #1 Cuz on October 26th, 2016 7:20 pm

    Wayne, just curious where does it say that he hurt anybody at all?? And I didn’t say him losing his child gives him any right to do what he done, if read correctly I said yea he done wrong and he’s doing his time for it!! & I’m sorry to hear about ur wife and children!! But I’m glad u had the support to keep u from falling apart!! But you dont know him or anything about what hes been thru or what exactly went on!! & yea we’ve all been thru alot and it doesn’t give any of us the right to do wrong, but that’s why he’s doing his time..& just bcuz one chapter of someone’s life ain’t so beautiful, doesn’t define a person of who they really are!! We’re all humans and we all make mistakes..it’s called life, where we live and learn!! He didn’t harm anyone and he owned up to what he done! SO YEA THATS MY FAMILY & IF HE EVER NEEDS ME IM HERE FOR HIM!! STILL PRAYING & WISHING NOTHIN BUT THE BEST FOR HIM & EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS WORLD, INCLUDING WHOEVER YOU ARE!!

  2. Wayne on October 26th, 2016 8:29 am

    @#! cuz….I lost my wife and two children in a car crash …do not use the excuse for ANYONE ” cuz he lost a child” to justify stealing or any other act that hurts or interferes with anothers life
    YOU DO NOT EVER HURT OTHER PEOPLE

    By the way “cuz” like the copper- the car that hit my wife and child was “stolen”
    Also “cuz” learn how to articulate
    Good day

  3. #1 cuz on October 25th, 2016 8:15 pm

    I know all of yall have ur own opinions about somebody that most of yall probably don’t even know! Yea, he done wrong and he’s doing his time for it!! People go thru things in life that sometimes can send them down a black hole!! I wonder how all of yall would be after losing ur only child?!?! Praying for ur cuz and hope for nothin but the best for you!!

  4. Nod on October 25th, 2016 4:57 pm

    Only 270 days? Should be at least a three year minimum!

  5. tg on October 25th, 2016 10:16 am

    Nicholas you are headed down the wrong highway,wake up before its too late.You can make a better life than prison.

  6. anne 1of2 on October 25th, 2016 9:52 am

    He sounds like a hard worker to me. Too bad he doesn’t believe in regular paychecks.

  7. Anne on October 25th, 2016 6:28 am

    Mr. Depue, if you are industrious enough to do these things why don’t you have a job?

    Perhaps while in jail you can learn the trade of becoming an electrician assistant or an outboard motor mechanic and then become a wage earning citizen.

    Hopefully, drugs were not the reason you felt the need to be a thief.