A copper thief, Robert Joseph Carrillo, has been sentenced for the devastating damage he caused in Tucson in less than one month.
According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Carrillo was sentenced to five years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, followed by a consecutive five-year term of probation. He was ordered to pay $46,582 in restitution to the City of Tucson. He was sentenced in Pima County Superior Court on March 24, 2026.
Between September 22, 2025, and October 11, 2025, Carrillo damaged underground City of Tucson infrastructure to steal copper wire that powered streetlights across Tucson. He caused $46,582 in damage before selling the stolen wiring. The damage required extensive repair by city electricians.
Carrillo pleaded guilty to Theft and Trafficking in Stolen Property in the First Degree, both Class 2 felonies.
As far as I’m concerned he should have received more prison time. Copper thieves are notoriously destructive. They could care less about the damage they cause when they’re stealing the wire. Usually the damage costs exceed the copper value.
hmmm city make work problem – a legal? just trying to make a living