[15thRegionCrazy]

IVYTON - A Magoffin County man accused of stealing from a business displayed his guilt on a cardboard sign Tuesday.

In an “alternative” plea arrangement, Adam Minix, 30, of Salyersville, was ordered by Magoffin District Judge Dennis Prater to sit outside of Ivyton Scrap Metal with a sign reading, “I was caught stealing from this company. My name is Adam Minix.”

“Why don't more judges do this?” said Paul Marsillett, owner of the recycling company. “Small businesses can't keep coping with this kind of loss.”

Marsillett alleges that Minix and his wife, Theresa, falsified stolen recycling tickets and received more than $1,000 for copper that they didn't recycle.

Minix, charged with one felony count of theft and one count of third-degree forgery, has paid $326 in restitution to the company. He has also agreed to pay $751.50 in restitution on behalf of his wife, who is scheduled for arraignment on Jan. 23.

“This needs to be done,” Marsillett said. “In my opinion, if they get caught doing some misdemeanor offense, they need to be out in the public eye. Instead of going to court and paying fines, they need to do some kind of public service. Let them get out there and pick up pop cans and donate the money to a charity like R.E.A.C.H. [in Salyersville]. Get them out there, let people know what happened. It might prevent crimes down the road.”
Minix, sitting with his sign at the business entrance Tuesday morning, had similar comments.

“It sets a good example for people that are accused of doing wrong,” Minix said. “Hopefully, they'll learn from this example I'm doing today. I've never seen anything like this before. I don't know if it's done all over the world, or if it's a new thing for Magoffin County, but it's a good thing really. It's better than going to jail. I'd rather sit here for eight hours than to sit in the Johnson County jail for eight hours ... Nobody's perfect. Everybody screws up.”

Prater and Magoffin County Attorney Donald McFarland did not return inquiry calls.

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