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KINGSTON — A Plymouth man was arraigned Friday for his alleged role in stealing nearly $12,000 worth of tools from a subcontractor for the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority.

Daniel Joseph Ledden, 50, of Academy Street, allegedly conspired with Joshua C. Forrester-Westad, 37, to steal tools from a construction trailer owned by Multiscape, which was on the sanitary authority’s property on Wyoming Avenue in November.

In an unrelated incident, Ledden and Forrester-Westad are also accused with stealing a catalytic converter from a company vehicle at a Wyoming Avenue business in September.

According to the criminal complaints:

• Sept. 19, 4:51 p.m: Police responded to Aaron’s, a store on Wyoming Avenue, on a report a catalytic converter was stolen from a company owned 2016 Isuzu. Police identified the thieves as Ledden and Forrester-Westad. Police said the value to repair the damage to the vehicle was $2,242.46.

• Nov. 13, 6:17 a.m: An employee of Multiscape reported to police a construction trailer was forced open and $11,649 worth of tools were stolen. Surveillance cameras recorded two men pushing a cart filled with tools away from the trailer. Police said a witness identified the two men as Ledden and Forrester-Westad.

Ledden was arraigned by District Judge James Haggerty in Kingston on two criminal complaints charging him with six counts of criminal conspiracy, two counts of theft, and one count each of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, theft and possessing instruments of crime. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $60,000 total bail.

Forrester-Westad was arraigned in December and is facing three counts of criminal conspiracy, and a single count of theft in county court.

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By Ed Lewis

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