The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office has charged two individuals in connection with the theft of fiber optic and copper wire that caused a temporary service disruption in the Hickory Highway area earlier this week.
According to Sheriff Darren Campbell, Deputy J. Betts responded to a report of the theft on October 20, 2025, after an AT&T technician noticed a cell tower outage and went to investigate. The technician told deputies he saw a man loading large sections of cable into the trunk of a Toyota Corolla. Before the vehicle left the area, the technician was able to take a photo and later determined that approximately 300 feet of fiber optic cable and 300 feet of copper wire had been stolen, with an estimated total value of $4,500.
Through further investigation, Deputy Betts identified the vehicle and determined that it was registered to 43-year-old Afton McKenzie Rash of Old Fort, North Carolina. Betts then coordinated with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office to locate the vehicle and identify the individuals involved. Deputies in McDowell County found the vehicle at a residence and identified a second suspect, Christopher Michael Laplante. Inside the car, deputies discovered wire and a pipe cutter believed to have been used in the theft.
Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, Deputy Betts obtained warrants for both Rash and Laplante on charges of felony larceny, felony injuring utility wires or fixtures, and felony conspiracy to commit larceny. The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office entered both suspects as wanted.
On October 21, 2025, deputies from the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office arrested Rash and Laplante and transported them to the McDowell County Detention Center. Both appeared before a magistrate and were issued a $15,000 secured bond.
The investigation is ongoing, and officials say additional charges are possible as they work to recover the stolen materials.
