A union plumber was sentenced in early February in Douglas County Circuit Court for pilfering tools from construction companies with which he worked.
Mark Allen Couture, 38, of Wascott pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor theft Feb. 14. He was sentenced to one day in jail and ordered to pay a fine of $350.
Tools collected from a storage unit Couture was using included a come-along tool from C. R. Meyers Company, a Felker Brand case from Carlson Flooring, a tape ruler and welding flow gage from Stack Brothers Company, welding tools -- including power cords and torch heads -- that belonged to the former local company Phillips Getschow and crescent wrenches from Jamar Construction Company. None of the businesses gave Couture permission to take the items.
The thefts were reported by an anonymous caller to whom Couture tried to sell the tools, according to the criminal complaint. Couture told the caller he got the tools by a "five finger discount."
