One of two people wanted in connection with the theft of property at Cleveland Cliffs Taconite Harbor facility in Schroeder last March was convicted on two counts of burglary, one count of damage to property, and one count of receiving stolen property.
Madison Rose Vail, 23, of Lindstrom, Minnesota was tried by a jury of her peers in Sixth District Court in Grand Marais on January 26. A hearing for sentencing will be held February 27 where Vail could be sentenced up to 10 years behind bars and fines that could total $20,000.
Vail was arrested with Alexander Gaiter Smith, 28, of St. Paul on April 2, 2016. The couple was caught after a Cleveland Cliffs employee saw signs of trespassing and reported it to the county Sheriff ’s Office. Cook County Sheriff ’s Deputy Jesse Johnson spotted the couple and their van on site and obtained a search warrant, finding copper wire, brass, and receipts from a recycling center for copper wire and insulated wire. Johnson also found bolt cutters, hacksaws, and headlamps.
Smith is on the run, failing to appear at Cook County court hearings in May, August, and September. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, and if caught, Smith will be held without chance of bail.
Cliffs closed the Taconite Harbor facility in 2001. It sold the coal-fired 225-megawatt power plant to Minnesota Power and retained the loading dock, deep water harbor, and railroad line, as well as some of the property and facilities on the northern side of Highway 61 above the lakeside facility.
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