Two De Soto Men Charged in Wire Theft Case

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - Two De Soto men are facing felony charges after allegedly cutting down AT&T wire south of the city.

52-year-old John Anthony Leach and 63-year-old Andrew Howard Underwood were each charged on August 27 with stealing, a class D felony that carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the 13800 block of Highway E around 2:20 a.m. after a resident reported suspicious activity. Deputies found Leach and Underwood near the area with flashlights, wire cutters, and about 100 feet of AT&T wire.

Leach was being held at the Jefferson County Jail on a $25,000 bond, while Underwood was being held without bond.