A Qwest employee was arrested after allegedly stealing equipment and then selling it, according to Coralville police.

Derek Provence, 40, was charged with two counts of first-degree theft, a Class C felony.

Provence allegedly stole two fiber-optic fusion splicers and sold them to a Massachusetts company.

The total value of the splicers was around $35,000, according to police.

Provence allegedly admitted to the thefts, police said.

A Class C felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of no more than $10,000.

— by Danny Valentine