Admitted copper thief Diamantino Reis pleaded for mercy yesterday and then wept after a Circuit Court judge sentenced him to up to 10 years in prison for a series of crimes that included $26,967 in damage to the West Loch municipal golf course.

Reis and his lawyer asked Judge Richard Perkins for a probation sentence, arguing that he has already served 15 months behind bars and led an "exemplary" life before becoming addicted to methamphetamines in 2004.

But Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Franklin Pacarro Jr. asked for the 10-year sentence "to send a message to people out there ripping off copper."

Reis, 44, pleaded guilty to crimes including criminal property damage, theft of copper and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

West Loch maintenance supervisor Tony Balada Jr. told Perkins that Reis' theft of copper wiring on two occasions at the golf course in September 2007 "put lives in danger" and knocked out electricity for a month to the concession stand and three restrooms.

Pacarro told the judge that an investigation conducted by state sheriffs determined that Reis sold some $70,000 in copper and other metals to recycling firms from September 2006 to September 2007.

Those sales did not include $3,600 he received for selling almost 1,700 pounds of copper wiring stolen from the West Loch golf course, Pacarro said.

Reis was born and raised in Portugal but married a local woman here in 1989. He was a truck driver until 2004 when he was fired for failing a drug test, deputy public defender Kenji Akamu told Perkins.

Akamu objected to allegations that Reis headed an organized group of copper thieves.

"He's no kingpin, he's not a criminal mastermind," Akamu said. "He's a guy who got into drugs and stole to support his habit."

Reis' wife and daughter spoke briefly in the hearing, asking the judge to allow Reis to return home.

Reis told Perkins he was "sorry and ashamed" for what he had done. "I really learned my lesson," he said.

But when Perkins pronounced sentence, Reis put his head down on the defense table and wept.

"You caused a lot of damage, expensive damage," Perkins told him. "Your record is not that bad but I think there is a need for deterrence of this sort of crime."

The judge ordered Reis to pay $26,966.62 in restitution for the West Loch damage.

Reis also admitted stealing jewelry and other valuables worth some $11,000 from a family friend, but Perkins said the amount of restitution for that offense will be set later.