BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Two Inez locals, Jeffery Pinson, 31, and Ray Collins, 48, found themselves in police custody Thursday evening on Mac Pinson Drive for allegedly receiving stolen goods valued between $500 and $1,000.

According to Chief Deputy Chris Kidd of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, authorities were alerted to a scene involving two men reportedly loading and burning copper in the area.

Upon arrival, Kidd uncovered an assortment of industrial materials, including equipment bucket pins, bolts, copper wiring, transformer parts, and wire conduits.

When questioned, Pinson and Collins claimed they had taken the items from Martin County Coal’s property on Middle Fork of Wolf Creek Road, believing they were free to do so.

Employees on the property painted a different picture, saying the property is secured with several security gates and guards—and neither man had permission to be there, let alone take anything.