Preliminary examination set for copper wire theft suspect

The Hollister man arrested last month accused of stealing copper wire from a Pacific Gas & Electric facility had a preliminary examination scheduled for Dec. 23, according to court records.
Hollister police Nov. 21 arrested James. R. McKuin, 35, on suspicion of stealing copper wire from the PG&E property on Seventh Street in Hollister.
He has been charged suspected of commercial burglary and trespassing.
At about 4:50 a.m., officers were alerted to movement within the PG&E property. They arrived and found the utility’s property on the sidewalk with indications of copper wire theft, according to police. Police surrounded the city block and found the man inside a fenced area.
McKuin is listed as a transient in the Hollister area. Police are investigating whether he might be connected to other, recent copper wire thefts.
At a preliminary setting Thursday, Judge Steven Sanders set a pre-preliminary hearing for Dec. 20 and the preliminary examination for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 23 in room 101.