Stillwater couple accused of stealing $18,525 worth of copper from OSU

STILLWATER — A Stillwater couple accused of stealing $18,525 worth of copper cable from Oklahoma State University between June 22 and Dec. 22 of 2025, which was reportedly sold to a Tulsa recycling business, have been ordered to appear in court on Sept. 9 with an attorney on a three-count felony charge.

   Jordan Wayne Smith, 34, and Ashley Diane Skinner (alias Smith), 38, could each be given as much as 17 years in prison if convicted of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses, grand larceny and possession of stolen copper. She previously was incarcerated for drug possession in Perkins and Cushing, prison records show.

   The couple appeared in court on July 23 without an attorney, court records show. They had been arrested and freed on bond in June followed an extensive investigation by OSU Police Detective Kyle McCool, according to his affidavit.

   “I began investigating the theft of copper from a Republic Services contracted recycle bin (on OSU property). An individual reported two potential suspects, Jordan Smith and Ashley Skinner.

   “I obtained a picture of Jordan Smith’s vehicle and tag and sent it to Tulsa PD Real Time Information Center. They provided me with pictures of the Ford truck in Tulsa on Dec. 22, 2025. The truck was located through Flock safety License Plate Readers at two different locations.

   “I contacted CMC Recycling and informed them I was investigating a copper theft and provided the employee with Jordan Smith and Ashley Skinner’s information. I was notified via email that Mr. Smith had sold copper to CMC Recycling on seven separate occasions beginning on June 23, 2025.

   “In total, Mr. Smith obtained $13,888.92 for recycling copper and other metals. When observing the receipts, I noticed a majority of the type of copper sold by Smith was labeled ‘copper bare bright’…defined as larger, thicker, electric cables which are often heavy. I believe this matches the description of what was stolen from OSU campus.

   “I received an email from CMC Recycling containing pictures and electronic signatures from when Mr. Smith sold the metals to CMC Recycling. In the pictures from 10/9/25 and 10/17/25, there are pictures of Mr. Smith at the checkout window with his wife, Ms. Skinner in the background. In total, Mr. Smith sold 3,053 pounds of ‘copper bare bright,"” the detective alleged in his affidavit.

   “When speaking with the Electrical Distribution Supervisor, he advised copper has been kept in recycling containers for years. He further advised anyone who worked for OSU facilities management or who simply drove back to the yard when the gates were open would know the copper was there, but no one would have permission to take the copper.

   “After physically observing the cable which remained in the recycle container at OSU and what it would look like if the exterior coating would be removed, I believe all the ‘copper bare bright’ sold by Mr. Smith to CMC Recycle was stolen from the same recycle container at OSU,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.

   The detective obtained search warrants for the couple’s cell phone records that were then provided to a state crime bureau analyst, who determined both phones appeared to be likely located in the area of the OSU recycling bin containing the copper at 10:41 pm on June 21, 2025, two days before the first CMC recycling center transaction in Tulsa when Smith sold 193 pounds of copper, the affidavit alleged.

   “I spoke with OSU Construction and Contract Services Manager, who informed me the university receives money based on the weight of the scrap metal in the recycle bin. Due to this, Mr. Smith and Ms. Skinner stole items, which Oklahoma State University would have profited from,” the detective alleged in his affidavit.

   OSU has filed a restitution recovery form seeking $18,525 from the defendants for its loss, court records show.

   Skinner had been released from prison on Oct. 15, 2015, after being incarcerated for less than a year on three concurrent sentences for possession of marijuana and methamphetamine in Perkins in 2014, possession of marijuana in Cushing in 2011 and possession of marijuana in the presence of a child in Cushing in 2009, the latter two cases for probation violations, Payne County court records show.