Sonora Resident Charged With Power Theft

Sonora, CA — Shop lifting, burglary … those are common crimes. But how about stealing electricity?

That is the charge now facing 39 year old Howard Owen Orr of Expedition Drive in Sonora. In early August P.G.& E. investigators found an electric cable illegally wired into a service drop line that provides power to an elderly female neighbor´s residence. Tuolumne County Sheriff´s deputies warned Orr of the violation stating that this could cause a fire at either his or his neighbor´s residence.

Tuesday deputies returned to the Orr residence after being told he was again hooked into the same service drop. Orr was on searchable probation so deputies searched his residence for additional evidence. Orr was questioned, arrested and transported to the county jail. Bail was set at $10,000.

According to P.G.& E., the amount of diverted power was estimated at $7,000.

Written by Bill Johnson