A Columbus man has pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act by releasing a refrigerant into the air during the theft of dozens of air conditioning units.
Federal prosecutors say Martin Eldridge and others stole at least 49 units between August and October last year. The 35-year-old Eldridge will serve 31 months in prison under terms of the plea. He also pleaded guilty to related state charges of theft, failure to appear and drug possession in April. Sentencing for those charges has been scheduled for August.
