Cleveland Man Faces 30 Years in Prison for String of Copper Thefts in Lakewood, Cuyahoga County

A 34-year-old Cleveland man faces 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 24 felony charges related to a string of copper thefts around Cuyahoga County — including several churches in Lakewood.

James Dina, of 1011 Spring Rd., was set to go to trial Tuesday, but instead, pleaded guilty to the charges in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

He is set to be sentenced April 6.

There were four cases related to the 24 charges — a total of 16 charges breaking and entering, five charges of theft and vandalism, all fifth-degree felonies; disrupting public service, a fourth-degree felony; and second-degree felony burglary.

In the Lakewood case, Dina admitted stealing copper downspouts from the Lakewood Congregational Church, at 1375 West Clifton Blvd.; Gethsemane Lutheran Church, at 14560 Madison Ave.; Lakewood United Methodist Church, at 15700 Detroit Ave.; St. James Catholic Church, at 17514 Detroit Ave.; Faith Lutheran Church, 16511 Hilliard Road; St. Peter's Episcopal Church, at 18001 Detroit Ave.; and he also stole $16,000 worth of copper from Lakewood High School, at 14100 Franklin Blvd.

There were also a number of cases against him in Cleveland and Solon, said Ryan Miday, spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.

Dozens of area churches have been victimized by copper thefts in dozens of incidents during the past year.

Capt. Ed Hassing of the Lakewood Police Department . With scrap dealers paying around $3 per pound, the copper downspouts at area churches have made easy marks, he said.

"There are not a lot of people around," Hassing said. "You go in the middle of the night, people don't live there. It's accessible and it's wide open."

It was the .

Lakewood Police Chief Timothy Malley said recently that he is proud of his department for its work on the case. He noted the work of the detectives leading the investigation, Pat Foye and Tom McLaughlin, who are both department veterans.

Malley said scrap yards are often required to obtain photo identification for those who sell scrap metal, including copper. "Unfortunately, there's a market for this commodity," he added.

Detectives followed up with several area scrap yards, before finding some luck at one in Cleveland, said Malley, adding the once Dina was identified a warrant was issued for his arrest.

"Developing those leads took a good piece of detective work," he said. "It led to cleaning up some of our thefts of copper gutters but (also helped) many of our neighboring communities."