ST. LOUIS • An Illinois man who sold 900 pounds of stolen copper pleaded guilty to a federal charge in U.S. District Court here Wednesday.

John F. Martin, 51, of Granite City, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of interstate transportation of stolen property and admitted stealing the AT&T telephone wiring containing the copper in Bridgeton and bringing it to Illinois for sale.

Under questioning by U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel in court, Martin took pains to point out that he had not cut down the wire - that was done by unnamed others, according to Martin's public defender, Tom Flynn.

The replacement value of the wiring is somewhere between $30,000 and $70,000, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Albus said.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, Martin could face at least a year in federal prison when sentenced July 29, and will have to pay restitution to AT&T.