A 44-year-old man is accused of stealing wire from power poles that caused a power outage, said Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields in a news advisory.
On Aug. 22, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office received a report of wire being stolen from power poles in the Eagle Springs area of Moore County. The larceny caused a power outage affecting approximately 150 Randolph Electric customers.
Investigators identified Eric Callihan, 44, of Eagle Springs, as a suspect. On the same day, Callihan was arrested and charged with felony injuring an energy facility, felony larceny, felony possession of stolen goods, and felony obtaining property by false pretense. He was committed to the Moore County Detention Center under a $275,000 secured bond, and his first court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 10 in Moore County district court.
Fields said the offense of injuring an energy facility became law effective Dec. 1, 2023, as part of the Protect Critical Infrastructure Act, and applies to anyone who willfully destroys, injures, or otherwise damages an energy facility, including lines, wires, or other equipment used in its normal operation. This offense is classified as a Class C felony under North Carolina law and carries a maximum punishment exceeding 15 years of imprisonment along with a fine of $250,000.
“I want to thank Senator Tom McInnis for introducing and ensuring the passage of the Protect Critical Infrastructure Act following the attack on Moore County’s power infrastructure in December of 2022,” said Fields. “This legislation sends a clear message that acts targeting our critical infrastructure will not be tolerated. It serves as a strong deterrent and provides us with the ability to hold individuals fully accountable when they commit any act of injury against systems that are essential to our citizens.”
Feature photo: Eric Callihan is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law—photo via Moore County Sheriff’s Office.
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*Press release from the Moore County Sheriff’s Office.
