Jul 17, 2015 2 min read

A West Virginia man who pleaded guilty to stealing 45 deep-cycle solar batteries and damaging battery-powered safety switching systems on property of Range Resources and a contractor in March 2014 was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison.

Brian Keith Chipps, 33, of Weirton, was sentenced July 9 before Washington County Judge John F. DiSalle after pleading guilty to theft, conspiracy to commit theft and criminal mischief.

Chipps, along with co-defendants, Jeffrey Little, 39, of Avella, and John Robert Spears, 41, of Weirton, were accused of stealing batteries from a lock box in a fenced area at 670 Buck Run Road, Donegal Township, March 4, 2014, causing a power loss to the well pad. Batteries also were stolen from equipment at Cove Contracting’s work site in Independence Township in early March.

Little and Spears were arrested last year. Little pleaded guilty Oct. 15 to one count each of criminal mischief, theft and conspiracy, and was sentenced to 1 year less 1 day to 2 years less 2 days in county jail. Spears pleaded guilty Nov. 17 to two counts of theft and one count of conspiracy, and was sentenced to 5 to 23 months in county jail followed by 2 years of probation.

The three men also went to Range Resources’ Temple Pad at 151 Raccoon Run Road, Independence, on March 14, 2014. Police said they stole batteries, also causing a power loss to that well pad.

The batteries were sold at scrapyards in Weirton. The value of the stolen batteries was $27,600, and damage to the safety switching systems was set at $5,000.

Chipps also was sentenced to 2 years of probation. All three men were ordered to pay Range more than $50,000 in restitution.

Chipps is not to have contact with Range, MarkWest or his co-defendants.