As a result of stealing telephone line from various locations throughout the county, a Pedro man was ordered to pay more than $48,000 to AT&T — an amount that is small compared to the inconvenience of the victims, one assistant prosecutor said.

Brian Bloomfield, 34, of 3900 Township Road 60, pleaded guilty Wednesday to 16 counts of fourth-degree disrupting a public service and 14 counts of third-degree tampering with evidence.

In addition to restitution, Judge Charles Cooper sentenced the man to 12 years in prison based on the recommendation of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mike Gleichauf.

Gleichauf said taking the phone wire and selling it went beyond being just a nuisance for those affected.

“It caused some people who don’t have cell phones or cell phone reception no way to contact emergency services,” Gleichauf said.

Warren Morford, Bloomfield’s attorney, said the man was driven to the crime by “economic necessity,” not drug addiction.

“I’m sorry for what I’ve done,” Bloomfield said.

Bloomfield was arrested in March following a 10-month investigation in copper wire thefts across the county. Also arrested was Randy L. DePriest Jr., 30, of 272 Private Road 2173, County Road 41S, Pedro.

DePriest is charged with 16 counts of fourth-degree disrupting a public service and 15 counts of third-degree tampering with evidence.

A trial is set for DePriest on Aug. 22. If found guilty, the man will also have to help pay the $48,000 to AT&T.

In other cases:

• Lesley Ann Church, 31, of 7928 Paddle Creek Road, Catlettsburg, Ky., admitted community control sanctions violations. Cooper sentenced the woman to four months in prison.

• Joseph Jenkins, 38, of 615 County Road 3, Chesapeake, admitted CCS violations and pleaded guilty to a charge of fourth-degree trafficking in drugs. Two other charges of trafficking in drugs were dismissed.

Cooper sentenced the man to a total of three years in prison, a $5,000 fine and a six-month driver’s license suspension.

• Girvis Roberts, 48, of 1500 1/2 Marcum Terrace, Huntington, W.Va., was arraigned on a count of fifth-degree possession of drugs (heroin), to which he pleaded not guilty.

Cooper set bond at $30,000 cash or surety and set a pretrial for July 3.

• Jacob Orlando, 24, of 203 Township Road 1034 Lot B, South Point, was arraigned on a count of second-degree illegal manufacture of drugs, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Cooper set bond at $100,000 cash or surety and set a pretrial for July 3.

• Matthew Rife, 23, of 310 N. Second St., Ironton, admitted to CCS violations and was sentenced to 114 days in prison.