GALLIPOLIS — After previously serving time in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for theft and breaking and entering, a Vinton man was recently sentenced to a stint in a state penal facility after pleading guilty to breaking and entering for an offense that occurred in 2011.

Thomas L. Ball, 31, Vinton, was sentenced to serve 10 months in the state prison system on Thursday after pleaded guilty to breaking and entering.

Ball previously pleaded guilty to breaking into property owned by Buckeye Rural Electric located at 4848 Ohio 325 South near Patriot on August 28, 2006, and stealing 25 pounds of 6 AWG copper wire, 200 feet of 6 poly wire with black casing, a roll of 40T copper wire and a roll of #6 copper ground wire from the electric company.

In February 2007, Ball was sentenced to serve 11 months of incarceration for theft and 11 months of incarceration for breaking and entering in this case — sentences that were ordered to be served consecutively.

In his most recent case, Ball was charged with theft and breaking and entering after he broke into property located on Morgan Center Road near Vinton on August 5, 2011, and allegedly stole several feet of four inch, steel pipe from the property owner — property valued at more than $500, but less than $5,000, according to the indictment.

Ball was arraigned in this case on August 25, and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His bond was set at $10,000 own recognizance and bond was later posted for his release from the Gallia County Jail.

A negotiated plea agreement was later filed in this case and signed by the defendant on November 22, 2011. According to the agreement, the prosecuting attorney recommended a six month prison sentence in this case due to the defendant’s prior felony conviction in the common pleas court.

The plea agreement further advised the defendant that the recommendation of the prosecutor is not binding upon the court and that the court alone determines the appropriate sentence.

The court later scheduled a plea change and sentencing hearing on December 27 and the defendant failed to appear for said hearing.

A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was later arrested on May 5, 2012, by deputies with the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office.

His bond was revoked and set at $50,000, 10 percent secured.

During a hearing held on Thursday, Ball entered a guilty plea to breaking and entering and, in lieu of the plea agreement, the state dismissed count two in this case.

The court subsequently sentenced the defendant to 10 months of imprisonment. He was further ordered to have no contact with the victim and given credit for 32 days served.

Three years of post-release control is also optional in this case following the defendant’s release from prison.