2 Plead Guilty In Metal Thefts From Md. Army Base

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Federal prosecutors say two more Aberdeen Proving Ground employees pleaded guilty to metal thefts at the Army base.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 62-year-old Ronald Phillips Baker of Havre de Grace and 34-year-old Steven M. Coale of North East pleaded guilty Thursday.

Prosecutors say Baker captained a patrol boat which allowed him to enter secure areas, where he stole more than 27,000 pounds of aluminum and other metals, selling the metal as scrap for about $16,000.

Coale pleaded guilty in a separate scheme involving two other employees. Prosecutors say the three stole copper wire from buildings and wire buried at the base. Timothy Bittner of Bel Air pleaded guilty Tuesday in the case. Baker faces 10 years at sentencing Dec. 12, and Coale faces five years at sentencing Dec. 15.

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