Library sculpture thief pleads

LISBON — The second of two men who took the sculpture named “The Readers” at the Columbiana Library has pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving stolen property.

Matthew Stouffer, 23, of Columbiana, faced one count of receiving stolen property that can bring a penalty of up to 18 months in prison. He entered the plea Monday. He was scheduled to go on trial today. A co-defendant, Michael Nagle Jr., 24, of Columbiana, pleaded to the same charge last September and has completed his 10-month prison sentence. The two men were indicted in the removal of the popular outdoor sculpture of two children reading on a bench in January 2008 and selling it at a Youngstown scrapyard for $331.50. The library bought the piece for $12,500 in 2004. New security measures have been adopted for the sculpture. Stouffer will be sentenced at a later date.