Owensville police have arrested a repeat convicted felon on allegations of stealing copper wiring and damaging high-dollar printing equipment.

“On July 15, 2024, the Owensville Police Department responded to a burglary at a factory in Owensville where copper wiring had been stolen (over the weekend),” Owensville Chief Scott Griffith’s office stated in a release issued Tuesday. “Through an investigation the suspect was identified as Mark A Carey who was arrested on July 22.”

A three-count felony warrant was issued July 23 charging Carey, of Owensville, with D felonies alleging second-degree burglary and stealing, along with an unclassified E felony for first-degree property damage.

In a probable cause statement filed with the Gasconade County Prosecutor’s Office, police investigating the damaged equipment — with a replacement value of $100,000 the report noted — viewed a video surveillance image of the crime scenes and identified Carey — who is known well to local law enforcement.

The warrant set bond for Carey at $20,000 cash or surety and he was released July 25, according to a report from the Osage County Sheriff’s Department on jail detainees.

The police investigation noted the value of the copper wire stolen was $100. Police allege they found pieces of cut and burnt copper wiring in the trunk of his car. Another area business told police Carey had been bringing burnt copper wiring and cable “several times a week for a period of time.”

Along with theft of anhydrous ammonia, drug possession, and assault of a law enforcement officer, he was also previously convicted of tampering with a utility.