A hay thief was caught after the victim followed a trail of stolen hay all the way to his nephew’s property, discovering he had been ripped off by his own relative.The nephew, Chad Keaton Conner, 31, entered a guilty plea before General Sessions Judge Bill Locke to the charge of misdemeanor theft and was given an 11-month, 29-day sentence but released on time served. He was also ordered to perform 25 hours public service work, make restitution, and undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.His sentence comes after the victim discovered hay missing from his family property on Pigeon Hill Road earlier this month.“He noticed several bales of hay missing,” wrote judicial commissioner Jim Hartman of the victim’s account of the crime. “He followed the trail of dropped hay to his nephew’s property.”The man called the sheriff’s department and deputy Jon Odom came and also observed the trail of dropped hay.