COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus man was sentenced Thursday to over eight years in prison for his role in multiple break-ins and thefts in early 2023, including a heist where 162,000 rounds of rifle ammunition meant for police was taken, said Prosecuting Attorney Gary Tyack.
According to the prosecutor's office, James Scaff, 33, was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for crimes committed in March and April 2023.
On March 24, 2023, Scaff and Christopher Kimmel, 37, broke into a warehouse on Distribution Drive on Columbus’ west side and stole seven generators and more than $70,000 worth of appliances using a stolen delivery truck, the prosecutor's office said.
On March 30, 2023, Scaff broke into a warehouse on Georgesville Road on the west side by himself and, using a stolen truck, stole $3,492 worth of appliances.
On April 2, 2023, Scaff and Kimmel broke into another west side warehouse, where they again stole a delivery truck, this time using it to steal two motorcycles and 162,000 rounds of rifle ammunition valued at more than $64,000 that was scheduled to be delivered to the Columbus Division of Police.
On April 4, 2023, officers with the Grove City Police Department arrested Scaff for having a handgun and an AR15 assault rifle in his vehicle. Scaff was not allowed to possess firearms due to a previous burglary conviction.
Scaff pleaded guilty Nov. 8, 2023 to a total of 13 counts including breaking and entering, grand theft, receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence and having a weapon under disability.
Kimmel pleaded guilty on Dec. 1 to multiple charges related to the two thefts he was involved in. He was immediately sentenced to six years in prison.