Rising Sun Hardware Store Arsonists Sentenced To 20 Years

By Mike Perleberg Devon Radcliff (left) and Curtis Taulbee were each sentenced to 20 years in prison for the May 2016 burglary and arson of Valley Supply Hardware Store on April 21, 2017. Photos by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3. (Rising Sun, Ind.) - It's a tragedy all around. An aging couple is without their source of income and retirement. Two families have lost their sons to prison. Devon Radcliff and Curtis Taulbee each received sentences of 20 years in prison and six years on probation in Ohio County Circuit Court on Friday, April 21. The two Rising Sun 20-year-olds had burglarized and then burned down Valley Supply Hardware in May of 2016. They pleaded guilty to the crime in February. Taulbee told the court earlier this month that they committed the crime seeking fun and excitement. The two men appeared in their orange jumpsuits together for sentencing by Judge James D. Humphrey as Gary and Judy Copeland, owners of the hardware store, and their supporters observed. They had put 50 years of 10 hour days, six days a week into the small city's only hardware. "All this investment was lost due to the selfish and destructive acts of defendants Radcliff and Taulbee," said Humphrey. Humphrey admonished Radcliff, an employee of the Copeland's hardware store at the time of the burglary, for breaking their trust. "The day after the fire the defendant had the nerve to ask Mrs. Copeland if he would still be receiving his paycheck," the judge said. Humphrey said a three-line written apology submitted by Radcliff did not show significant remorse for the act. The Copelands previously said they will not be able to reopen the hardware store due to their ages and haggling with the insurance company. The scene at Valley Supply on the night of the fire. File photo. The sentences broke down into 14 years for the Burglary charge. The Arson charge brought six years in prison and six years on probation, to be served consecutively to the Burglary count. Prosecutor Lynn Deddens said the men must each serve at least 75 percent, or 15 years, of their 20 years prison time. Both men were given 428 days of credit time served in jail since their June 4, 2016 arrests. Radcliff and Taulbee's defense attorneys - John Watson and Leslie Votaw, respectively - had submitted pre-sentencing memorandums to the court. They had argued that sentencing the Burlgary and Arson counts consecutively instead of concurrently could constitute double jeopardy. Humphrey explained his analysis of the case, finding that it was appropriate to sentence consecutively because evidence showed the men "commit arson over and above the burglary itself." The investigation into the burglary and Taulbee's own statements in court revealed that the men had broke into and stole merchandise from the hardware store. They then left with the goods, but soon afterwards returned to intentionally burn the store. They had tried about 18 times to start the fire before they retrieved a can of gasoline from a shed on the property. Gary Copeland said after the hearing that the sentence was appropriate and what was expected. "I feel really sorry for their parents," Gary said. "That's the main thing. We just lost stuff. They've lost their kids," followed Judy. Judy Copeland had made more in-depth comments on the entire case during her testimony earlier this month. Deddens touched on how two men's bad decision one night impacted all of Ohio County. "It's difficult. The Copelands lost their business that was valued over $1 million. That's a huge loss not only for them, but the community and then the people that worked for them," the prosecutor said. Relatives of Radcliff and Taulbee, as well as their attorneys, declined to comment after the sentences were handed down. The two young men also received four-year sentences for breaking into a concession stand at Rising Sun High School weeks prior to the Valley Supply burglary. That sentence will run concurrently, or at the same time, as the 20 years for the hardware store incident. Humphrey also ordered Taulbee and Radcliff were ordered to have no contact with the Copelands or Rising Sun High School. A compromise on the restitution will see them pay a combined $50,000 to the Copelands, $1,154 to the high school, and $1,154 to the City of Rising Sun. RELATED STORIES: Business Owners To Arsonists: “You Took It All Away From Us In One Evening” Guilty Plea For Men Accused Of Setting Fire To Valley Supply Guilty Plea Hearing Scheduled For Accused Valley Supply Arsonists Valley Supply Employee, One Other Arrested In Connection To Arson Fire New Details In Rising Sun Arson Fire May Be Announced Monday Valley Supply Fire Ruled Arson Valley Supply Fire Cause Remains Under Investigation Rising Sun Hardware Store Destroyed By Fire