Drifter Gets 3 Years for Phone Box Thefts

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A drifter suspected of stealing up to $1 million from public telephone coin boxes in 32 states has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to repay Ohio Bell $802.50 in a plea bargain with authorities.

Franklin County Judge Patrick McGrath sentenced James Clark to three consecutive one-year prison terms and to repay $802.50, little more than half of the more than $1,400 he is suspected of stealing from Columbus telephone booths.

Clark pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of theft and two counts of tampering with a coin machine. Ten other counts of tampering were dismissed in the plea bargain.