JBLM Soldier Charged in Theft of $630K in Weapons

A 22-year-old Army private has been charged in the theft from Joint Base Lewis-McChord of some $630,000 worth of optics, sight lasers and other sensitive weapon attachments, according to Army officials.

Pvt. Nicholas Solt, of Slatington, Pa., also is charged with other crimes, including wrongfully communicating a threat to kill another individual and possession of anabolic steroids. He faces up to 59 years of confinement if found guilty on all charges.

In earlier statements, Army officials said it was unclear when the theft occurred.

But the theft was discovered in early January after soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, returned from a holiday break. Commanders then ordered about 100 soldiers into lockdown while investigators questioned them about a break-in to a secure building that held the equipment.

By mid-January, the Army Criminal Investigation Command, with the help of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, had recovered 98 percent of the stolen equipment from off-base posts.

"CID agents were able to move quickly because of the administrative actions taken," said Col. Steven Bullimore, I Corps chief of staff, who praised the investigators' "terrific police work."

For the Army, the theft was an embarrassing security breakdown.

The equipment is supposed to be stowed in a locked arms room with intruder alarms and is subject to daily security checks, according to base officials.

The Army Criminal Investigation Command said the equipment was stolen from a separate supply area outside the arms room.

Last month, The Seattle Times reported that a soldier from the 4th Brigade, who requested anonymity, said a second storage area was created when the arms room got crowded. That soldier said the second room had locks, but no alarms, and the thief was able to cut the locks, then make off with the equipment.

On Thursday, Maj. Chris Ophardt, a spokesman for I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, confirmed that the intruder did not have a key and had broken into the area.

Solt arrived at the base in October 2008 and deployed to Iraq from 2009 to 2010.

Ophardt said the ongoing investigation may yield more charges against other individuals.