Kings County authorities arrested a man in connection with stolen copper wire from multiple agricultural wells and a half-pound of methamphetamine, officials said Thursday.

Deputies took Salvadore Silva Valdovinos into custody on Oct. 30 while unloading copper wire stolen the previous evening from the Fresno County area, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office said.

Investigators began their probe on Oct. 21 after the Kings County Rural Crimes Unit was notified about a person recycling a large amount of copper wire. Detectives identified the vehicle and the person recycling the wire, which led them to Valdovinos, a Huron resident.

A search of Valdovinos’ vehicle and a storage unit in Lemoore yielded more than 2,000 pounds of stolen wire and other items, as well as over a half-pound of methamphetamine, authorities said.

Authorities booked Valdovinos into Fresno County Jail on multiple property theft and narcotics charges. He is set to be prosecuted in Fresno County.

The Kings County Rural Crimes Unit, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit, and CHP Central Office investigated the case.

The Kings County unit includes two sheriff’s deputies and an investigator from the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. The unit focuses on protecting growers from theft and other crimes.

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