Soldier gets jail term for stealing supplies

FORT LEWIS, Wash. – A Fort Lewis soldier was sentenced Wednesday to more than three years in jail for his role in stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of military supplies and selling them to a civilian.

Sgt. Davin G. Woolridge, 27, pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to commit larceny of government property, 15 counts of selling government property without proper authority and three counts of larceny of government property.

He is one of 10 Fort Lewis soldiers accused of stealing government property and selling it to Mykel D. Loftus, a Graham man who then allegedly sold the items online.

In addition to the 40 months of confinement, military judge Col. Debra Boudreau also ordered Woolridge to forfeit all pay and allowances and for his rank to be reduced to private. He’ll also receive a bad conduct discharge.

Staff Sgt. Arthur O. Smith III pleaded guilty and was sentenced April 10 to 45 months in jail.

More than $279,900 in government property was stolen, including Gore-Tex jackets and pants, light sticks and tool sets.

Investigations continue regarding the eight other soldiers.