Pulaski County Sheriff Bobby Jones reports that Deputies arrested Maynard Rupert, 49, of Burnside, on November 9, 2026, following a report of trespassing at an AT&T tower site at 246 Old Keno Road in Burnside. Deputies were dispatched at approximately 12:59 p.m.
An AT&T technician told Sergeant Ron Hellard that he had restored service at the tower earlier that day after repairing damage from a previous incident. After leaving, the technician received an alert that the tower had gone offline again. When he returned, he saw a man leaving the equipment building inside the fenced compound. The man then went into a wooded area. The technician reported finding the lines cut again and signs that the building door had been forced open.
Deputies searched the wooded area and spoke with nearby residents. The Pulaski County Special Response Team deployed a drone. While the drone was in the air, a man matching the technician’s description walked out of the woods. Deputies identified him as Rupert and took him into custody at approximately 3:19 p.m. He was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.
Rupert was charged with first-degree criminal mischief, third-degree criminal trespassing (first offense), possession of burglary tools, and third-degree burglary. The charges are allegations, and Rupert is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Deputies Byron Grimes and Joey Johnson are investigating. Sergeant Ron Hellard, Deputies Brandon Parks and Gerald Wooldridge, and the Pulaski County Special Response Team assisted.
Sheriff Bobby Jones asks anyone with information about this crime, any other crime, or suspected drug activity to contact the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office at 606-678-5145 or the tip line at 606-679-8477. You may remain anonymous.