Kern County Sheriff officials said on Thursday, a local farmer reported $1,700.00 worth of copper wire was stolen from an irrigation well in the area of Highway 46 and Highway 33. 

During KCSO's investigation, evidence was located at the scene. 

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Investigation Unit followed up on the investigation. 

The evidence located at the scene led Rural Crime Detectives to 49-year-old Denny Gutschlag of Taft, California.  

Officials say Gutschlag  is currently on Post Release Community Supervision. 

Rural Crime Detectives located Gutschlag in the 900 block of Baker Street, Bakersfield. 

Gutschlag was arrested and booked into the Kern County jail for violating PC 487J, Grand Theft of Copper.