BANGOR (AP) – A Medway man was sentenced Tuesday to six months in prison and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution for stealing copper from a dormant power plant.

Ricky Ladd, 20, pleaded guilty to theft, burglary and other charges before being sentenced in Penobscot County Superior Court to five years in prison, with all but six months suspended.

Prosecutors said Ladd and his 24-year-old brother stripped an electric power station in the town of Chester of copper while also causing damages of $550,000. Jonathan Ladd has pleaded guilty to the same charges but his sentencing has not been scheduled.

The brothers were linked to the crime from DNA that was taken from cigarette butts found at the scene, said Deputy District Attorney Michael Roberts. As the price of copper soared last year, thieves targeted electric company substations, plumbing businesses, junkyards and homes in search of the metal.

Charges are pending against eight others who allegedly stole copper from throughout northern Penobscot County, prosecutors said.