Toledo man goes to jail for stealing cable

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=7297445

"Others found guilty must pay thousands in restitution

A Toledo man has been sentenced to 11 months in jail for stealing cable service. Michael Gresky, 44, of 636 Forsythe St., pleaded no contest to unauthorized use of computer, cable, or telecommunications property, a fifth-degree felony, and was found guilty.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Frederick H. McDonald also sentenced Gresky to serve three years of post-release control after his release from prison and ordered him to pay Buckeye more than $950 in restitution. Gresky had been charged with five felony counts.

Jeffrey Hemmelgarn, 40, of 1302 Crestwood Rd., working in conjunction with Gresky, pleaded guilty Dec. 15, 2009 to the same felony charge as Gresky, and is to be sentenced March 30.

Three others were also convicted of illegally making connections. They have been ordered to make restitution in amounts ranging from $1,600 to $10,500. If any of these people do not make restitution, they also will go to prison.

Buckeye CableSystem has an ongoing audit program in which contractors physically check addresses and report those that are hooked up illegally. Buckeye then contacts those residents and urges them to become paying customers or eventually face charges.

The president and general manager of Buckeye, Chip Carstensen, asks that anyone who knows of persons making illegal connections to report them anonymously to Buckeye either by calling 419-724-9800 or emailing the information to www.cabletheft.com.

He also urged those residents who have an illegal connection to call Buckeye and establish legitimate accounts before they are caught, when they eventually could face felony charges and possible jail time. "