JAY – Police have charged a Verso Paper Mill employee with stealing copper wire worth more than $10,000 from the mill.

Complaints of suspicious vehicles being parked near a Verso security gate prompted the investigation.

Kristopher Smith, 28, of Livermore Falls was charged Thursday with felony theft by unauthorized taking by Andrew Hufnagel of the Jay Police Department this week. Smith is scheduled to appear in Superior Court on Nov. 30, Hufnagel said.

The investigation started several weeks ago when Verso Paper reported a suspicious vehicle on Riley Road. Smith’s vehicle was found near one of Verso’s security gates on several occasions, Hufnagel said.

Verso security told Jay police about the incidents and also that they had found evidence of a possible theft of copper cable from mill property.

Smith is an employee of Verso Paper.

After speaking with Verso personnel, Hufnagel interviewed Smith and charged him with a Class B felony because the stolen property is worth more than $10,000, he said.