2 Toledo men convicted in theft of cemetery flagpole

9/21/2007

Two of the three Toledo men involved in the theft of a flagpole from the veterans memorial at a cemetery admitted guilt yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Richard M. Pitts, 51, of 3353 Elm St. pleaded no contest to one count of felony vandalism, and James W. Nelson, 45, of 3571 Stickney Ave. pleaded no contest to attempt to commit vandalism, a misdemeanor.

Judge Denise Ann Dartt found both men guilty and sentenced Pitts to six months in prison. She ordered a presentence report for Mr. Nelson and set an Oct. 22 sentencing date.

The men, along with John Kuhn, were convicted of stealing a flagpole from the veterans memorial at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Manhattan Boulevard and Lagrange Street, and taking it to a recycling company, where they sold it as scrap metal.

Kuhn, 39, of 3353 Elm St. was sentenced on Aug. 8 to one year in prison after pleading no contest to and being found guilty of felony vandalism.