Campus police make copper theft case

A 46-year old Walhalla man was arrested Saturday and charged with the theft of copper from Clemson University property in Oconee County. According to the university, James L. Chastain was charged by campus police with committing injury to real property, or fixtures or improvements to obtain nonferrous metals, damage of $5 thousand or more. Chastain was arrested Saturday by Oconee sheriff’s deputies. Police say someone stole cooper from transformers at the Clemson University impound lot February 7 in Oconee. The damage to the transformers is estimated to be $11 thousand. Chastain, who is not a Clemson student or employee, was being held at the Oconee Detention Center pending a $10 thousand surety bond.