Convicted copper thief Diamantino S. Reis dropped into his chair as the judge read out his sentence. His wife and daughter wept softly behind.

  Copper Thief Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison

 

  Diamantino Reis who represents two of the state's biggest problems, the ice epidemic and copper theft faced a judge Wednesday. 

 

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  “;I've been working 18 years in Hawaii,”; said the Portuguese-born recovering addict, who was fired from his truck-driving job in 2004 after failing a drug test.

“;But you also did these crimes,”; said Circuit Judge Richard Perkins, who sentenced Reis to 10 years in prison for copper theft and other crimes.

Reis had pleaded guilty to criminal property damage, two counts of copper theft, and drug charges and second-degree theft for stealing from a roommate.

Reis stole copper wire twice from the West Loch Golf Course in 2007. Police were waiting for him when he returned to the course for a third attempt.

It cost the city about $27,000 to replace the stolen copper wire and repair the damaged fixtures. Reis made about $70,000 selling metals over the past two years, not including the copper stolen from the golf course.

Reis blamed the thefts on crystal methamphetamine, which he started using in 1996.

Reis' wife and daughter pleaded with the judge for probation because the wife has to work two jobs. The family said Reis was a good man who made a mistake.

However, Perkins said there is a need for deterrence to keep Reis off drugs. Reis will get credit for the 15 months he has already served in prison.

“;You were not an insignificant player in this thing,”; Perkins said, referring to Reis' role as a driver for other copper theft cases.