Sentencing Postponed for Admitted East County Copper Thieves

Sentencing was set for Monday for one of two East County residents that pleaded guilty to a three-month run of that cost Lakeside-area companies over half a million dollars, but was postponed until June 2.

Ronald Wayne Hyde, 50, is expected to be sentenced to two years and four months in state prison for the estimated $65,000 in damages and losses for to grand theft.

Christine Louise Vandecar, 47, is expected to be sentenced on May 19 for her grand theft plea.

The pair were arrested on Jan. 5 after being watched by Sheriff's deputies for weeks, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The spree of thefts lasted from October through January.

El Cajon Judge John Thompson ruled that enough evidence had been presented for the defendants to stand trial.

"The [thieves] in the cases would use the cover of darkness and, in many cases, bad weather to sneak onto the properties to cut out heavy-gauge copper wire from heavy equipment and machinery,'' Deputy Karl Miller said at the time. "Damage to the property, machinery and equipment would often render it unusable, causing substantial monetary loss to the affected businesses.''

Seven companies, all along Route 67, north of Willow Road, were victimized, Miller said.

The scrap metal recycling centers where they tried to cash in the copper helped authorities identify the suspects and where the copper came from, based on identifying numbers on the copper.

When totalling lost earnings, stolen metals and equipment damage, damage estimates come to over $500,o00, Miller said.

City News Service contributed to this report.