McCracken County Sheriff's Department began their investigation on July 11, after 26-year-old Zachary L. Wilson took a 16-foot utility trailer and some other equipment to sell at a local scrap yard. Detectives suspected the trailer was stolen, and eventually located the owner, who said the trailer had been parked at the Paducah Middle School construction site. The owner's specific description of the trailer confirmed that it was his.
Wilson returned to the scrap yard on two more occasions with large quantities of scrap steel and copper tubing, and on Tuesday he was spotted entering the scrap yard again. Detectives questioned him about his recent transactions, and the quantity of copper he was currently hauling. Wilson then admitted to stealing the trailer from the construction site, and said he had taken about 200 pounds of copper tubing from his employer.
Wilson was arrested and taken to McCracken County Jail. He is charged with two counts of receiving stolen property over $500, a class D felony, which could result in up to 5 years in prison for each count.
