Abilene man accused of stealing $600K of copper wire from employer for “bar tabs, golf trips, and vacations”

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – An Abilene man accused of stealing $600K worth of copper wire from his former employer then spending all the money on “bar tabs, golf trips, and vacations” has been arrested.

Douglas Butler was booked into the Taylor County Jail for Theft Monday in connection to the allegations. 

Court documents state police began investigating Butler in September 2024 when his former employer reported he stole around $600,000 worth of copper wire from their stores in both Abilene and Midland.

During the subsequent investigation, the documents state Butler admitted to stealing $300,000 worth of copper from the employer’s Midland location, and itemized sheets alleged he also stole more than $250,000 worth of copper from the Abilene location.

Transaction data from Pine Street Salvage in Abilene showed Butler received $107,900 from copper sales between March and August 2024, and his employer confirmed he did not have permission to take or sell the wire, according to the documents.

The documents also state, “Bulter claimed full responsibility for his actions and indicted none of the money he obtained was left as he had spent large amounts of money of bar tabs, vacations, golf trips, and gave his father money before he passed away.”

Butler remains held in the Taylor County Jail on a $40,000 bond.