Jasper Man Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Nearly $6,000 in Electricity

Joel Derwin Jones, 57, of Jasper, was arrested for allegedly stealing over $5,600 worth of electricity. Photo Courtesy of JCSO.

Jasper, TX — A Jasper man has been arrested after investigators discovered he had allegedly been stealing electricity for the past three years, according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

On August 4, 2025, the Sheriff’s Office received a tip that someone was possibly stealing power at a residence on Recreational Road 255. The case was immediately assigned to Investigator Calvin Starkie, who responded to the location alongside officials from Jasper-Newton Electric Cooperative (JNEC).

Upon arrival, investigators noted that the electric meter had been removed and secured with a lock. However, the lock appeared to have been tampered with and reattached. When they opened the meter box, they discovered two large copper wires that had been placed into the meter loop, allowing power to flow illegally to the residence.

According to investigators, electric service at the residence had been disconnected since July 2022, and there had been no official reconnection since that time.

Following the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued on August 6, 2025, for Joel Derwin Jones, 57, of Jasper. He was charged with Theft of Service – a State Jail Felony, and it is estimated that Jones allegedly stole $5,689.63 worth of electricity over the last three years.

Jones was arrested and booked into the Jasper County Jail around 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday.

Sheriff Chuck Havard credited Investigator Starkie for his quick response and praised the public for providing the tip that led to the arrest.

“Our staff is committed to combating criminal activity in Jasper County,” Havard said. “Good work by Investigator Starkie and thanks to our citizens for the information.”

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.