A West Memphis man has been sentenced to five years in prison following his conviction for stealing more than $62,000 worth of air conditioning equipment from a Jonesboro construction site.
Emmanual Dytrel Steele, 37, pleaded guilty to theft of property exceeding $5,000, a Class C felony. Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Scott Ellington on Tuesday sentenced Steele to 60 months in the Arkansas Department of Correction. Steele was also credited with 369 days of jail time already served and ordered to pay court costs, fines, and $1,000 in restitution to the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office.
A related charge of commercial burglary was dismissed, according to court documents.
The case stems from a reported theft on September 6, 2023, at a construction site on the 3300 block of Stadium Boulevard in Jonesboro. The site foreman told investigators that multiple air conditioning components, along with pipes, ducts, and tools, had been stolen. The total value of the missing items was $62,342.
While investigating the scene, Jonesboro police discovered blood droplets where some of the equipment had been disconnected. Blood swabs were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for testing, and assistance was requested from the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division. On February 18, 2026, the crime lab identified the DNA as belonging to Steele.
After the DNA match, a detective contacted Steele’s probation officer and attempted to interview him multiple times by phone. Steele missed several scheduled appointments, according to the investigator. On March 30, 2026, the detective finally contacted Steele through family members, and Steele agreed to meet at the Jonesboro Police Department. During the interview, Steele claimed he was working in Texas at the time of the incident and had never worked in Jonesboro, let alone at the construction site in question.
When confronted with the DNA evidence linking him to the scene, Steele invoked his right to an attorney and declined further questions, according to the affidavit.
Steele’s sentencing brings closure to a case that began nearly three years ago. He will serve his time with credit for time already served in jail.