KOSCIUSKO —
The man charged in the million dollar equipment heist has taken a guilty plea according to court files in Attala County Circuit Clerk Wanda Fancher’s office.
Kenneth Joe Taylor, 44, took a plea deal and was sentenced to eight years on two counts of receiving stolen property with 12 years post-release supervision.
At the time of his arrest in 2009, it was estimated that nearly $1 million in heavy equipment had been taken from other parts of Mississippi as well as Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas.
A tip lead the Attala Count Sheriff’s Department to Taylor’s residence on Attala County Road 3122, where several pieces of equipment were found.
Taylor was originally charged with 21 counts of receiving stolen property and two counts of possession of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle parts with knowledge that the VIN has been removed.
Charges were later reduced to 10 counts of receiving stolen property and three counts of possession of a motor vehicle with removed or altered VIN.
A mental evaluation was ordered for Taylor in November and the case was not set during the March term of Attala County Circuit Court.
A request of change of venue or location of the trial had also been submitted on behalf of Taylor.
The request, cited repeated media coverage by The Star-Herald and other online news sources and rumor within the community circulating about Taylor.
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Man in $1M heist takes a plea deal
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