A long holiday weekend allegedly turned into a high-dollar copper caper in Heppner, with more than $15,000 in tools and copper wire reported stolen from Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative’s yard. By the time co-op employees returned to work and spotted the missing gear, deputies say surveillance footage had already started pointing them toward two familiar local faces.
Investigation and arrests
According to East Oregonian, Morrow County deputies reviewed video from the co-op, followed up with a search, and ultimately arrested Noble Allan Goehring and Angel Lynn Newport after the break-in was reported on Tuesday. The sheriff’s office reported recovering some of the stolen tools and copper during the investigation.
Charges and evidence found
Local reporting by Terry Murry at Elkhorn Media Group says deputies served a search warrant at the pair’s home and found about 10 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Both Goehring and Newport face counts that include first-degree aggravated theft, as well as misdemeanors for unlawful entry into a motor vehicle and second-degree criminal trespass. Bail for each was set at $50,000.
Court schedule and next steps
According to East Oregonian, state court records show the two were arraigned last Wednesday. Preliminary probable-cause hearings are scheduled for next Wednesday in Morrow County court, where prosecutors will review the evidence and decide whether to formally move ahead on the felony counts.
A larger problem for utilities
Copper wire and high-value tools are hot targets nationwide, and utilities and communications providers are paying the price. Thefts like the one alleged in Heppner can trigger service interruptions and rack up big repair bills, especially for smaller, member-owned co-ops that do not have much financial cushion. FCC materials detail thousands of reported infrastructure vandalism and copper-theft incidents in recent reporting periods and outline the costly fallout for operators and their customers.
Legal notes
Under Oregon law, aggravated theft in the first degree (which applies when stolen property totals $10,000 or more) is a Class B felony, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine can be charged as a Class C felony. See ORS 164.057 and ORS 475.894 for statutory details and potential penalties.
The case remains active in Morrow County. Public defenders and the district attorney are listed on initial filings, and more records will be released as the matter moves through court. We will follow the upcoming hearings and update this report as new information is filed.
