EAST ALTON – A Belleville man accused of stealing over $500,000 worth of brass and copper from Wieland in East Alton faces five felony charges.
Joseph D. Bevenue, 44, of Belleville, was charged with four counts of theft, including two Class 1 felonies and two Class 3 felonies, as well as a Class 4 felony count of possession of a controlled substance on Feb. 5, 2026.
From Oct. 1 to Dec. 12, 2025, Bevenue allegedly committed a series of deceptive acts to obtain 4 coils/sheets of yellow brass and 31 coils/sheets of copper with a combined value of over $500,000.
Bevenue is additionally accused of obtaining over $500 worth of batteries from MH Equipment by means of deception from Feb. 20 to Dec. 8, 2025, and unlawfully possessing cocaine on Dec. 15, 2025.
The East Alton Police Department presented the case against Bevenue, who was granted pretrial release from custody.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
