A man who was questioned by police Thursday because he was behind a Middletown shopping center at 1 a.m. was found guilty of several crimes.

William Peterson, 40, of the 3900 block of Roosevelt Boulevard, was charged with theft, possession of criminal tools, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and criminal damaging after he allegedly stole copper tubing from a Middletown business.

Middletown Municipal Court Judge Mark Wall found Peterson guilty Friday of the charges. He was given a 30-day jail sentence, with 29 days suspended, fined court costs and has to make restitution for the damages.

While on patrol, Middletown police saw Peterson behind 703 S. Breiel Blvd., and when Peterson was questioned why he was there at 1 a.m., he said he was walking to a friend’s house. When asked, Peterson told police he had channel locks in his pocket.

The officer checked the businesses at Kittyhawk Plaza, and found a back pack near a transformer. The back pack contained cut copper tubing consistent with commercial. air conditioning tubing or plumbing, police said. Another officer checked the businesses and found that tubing similar to what was in the back pack had been cut from a business at 4471 Marie Drive. The tubing had been cut from an air conditioner unit.

Police notified the administrator of the complex.

Peterson was transported to the City Jail and when asked about the back pack and copper tubing, he advised police he would take the case to trial and he didn’t want to speak to police.