Man pleads guilty to stealing antique fixtures at Capitol II Theatre

A Lovilia man accused of stealing antique light fixtures from the Capitol II Movie Theatre in Newton switched his plea to guilty Wednesday.

Jeffrey Paul McGinn, 50, will have his sentencing scheduled for 9 a.m. April 10. McGinn was charged with second-degree theft after stealing the fixtures in September. According to court documents, he is free after a $5,000 bond from Polk County Jail on Nov. 15.

According to a police report, at 3:08 p.m. Sept. 14, police took a report of two antique light fixtures stolen from the Midtown Building. The items belonged to the theatre, 114 First St. N. in Newton. The theft was spread on social media, and officers started investigating possible locations of the items.

The fixtures were eventually located at West End Architectural Salvage in Des Moines. The light fixtures were retrieved, and the owner of the store identified the seller as McGinn. He was paid $350 for each item.

“The owner of the store appraised the light fixtures at $2,000,” the police report said.

A warrant was then requested and approved for McGinn, and he was arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail.

Contact Orrin Shawl at
641-792-3121 ext. 6533
or oshawl@newtondailynews.com