Jasper County Deputy Arrests Newton Man for Copper Theft in Evadale

James Knighton, 49, of Newton, was arrested by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office for copper theft in the Evadale area. Photo courtesy of JCSO.

A Newton man was arrested Tuesday in connection with the theft of copper from power poles in the Evadale area, following a two-day investigation by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

On Monday, July 14, 2025, a Jasper County deputy responded to a report of a suspicious person along Highway 105 in Evadale. The caller stated someone was actively removing copper wiring from power poles. When the deputy arrived, the suspect fled on foot into a wooded area. However, the deputy located a suspicious vehicle nearby and observed cut copper ground wires in plain view inside the vehicle.

The suspect was identified as James Knighton, 49, of Newton, Texas, but he was not located that day.

On Tuesday, July 15, the same deputy spotted Knighton walking along U.S. Highway 96, still wearing the same clothing from the day before. A traffic stop was initiated and a warrant was secured for his arrest.

Knighton is being charged with Theft of Materials (Copper), a State Jail Felony, and was booked into the Jasper County Jail.

According to authorities, Knighton is also the same individual captured in a recent social media post allegedly taking items from a daycare facility in Orange County. However, no charges were pursued in that case after the daycare declined to press charges.

Knighton is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Chuck Havard stated that his office remains committed to addressing theft and property crimes throughout the county.

“We will continue to track down those who think they can steal from our communities,” Havard said.