Two Charlotte men charged after trying to steal wire from Liberty cell tower

LIBERTY —Two Charlotte men are facing multiple charges accused of cutting about 40 feet of cable at a cell tower site in Liberty, according to court records.

Julian Smith Martinez-Amador, 47, and Jefferson Ezequiel Garcia-Ramirez, 26, were arrested Wednesday after Randolph County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a larceny in progress at a Verizon Wireless cell tower site on Starmount Road, in Liberty, according to the sheriff’s office. 

The men were taken to the Randolph County Detention Center where a magistrate found probable cause for Martinez-Amador on felony injuring utility wires or fixtures, felony larceny, misdemeanor first-degree trespassing and misdemeanor injury to property involving non-ferrous metal.

Garcia-Ramirez was charged with felony injuring utility wires or fixtures, felony injury to property to obtain non-ferrous metal, felony larceny and misdemeanor first-degree trespassing. 

According to warrants filed in Randolph District Court, the men are accused of cutting Celeflex cable, which is used for 2G and 3G phone service, from the site. The warrants say the cable belonged to Verizon Wireless and estimated the damage at $18,000.

Each man was given a $5,000 secured bond, and court records show both posted bond Wednesday. Both were scheduled to appear in court Friday and are expected to appear back in Randolph County District court in January.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.