SOMERSET, Ky. (WKYT) - Derek Cross didn’t have much to say to our camera crew as he was headed to the Pulaski County Detention Center Wednesday afternoon.

“It was just a mistake,” said the handcuffed Cross after he was interviewed about the crime Wednesday afternoon, and led out of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office.

That interview took place just a few hours after Cross apparently called Richard New and apologized for stealing New’s tractor from Southern Oaks Funeral Home in Somerset.

“He called, and said, Mr. New, I’m the man who took your tractor..and I did return your tractor,” said New.

We’ve also learned that Cross told police he is an ordained minister, and that he’s married with two children. But he apparently gave police and New different stories on why he stole the $13,000 tractor.

“He is saying that someone was involved..and paid him…to move the tractor and that he was supposed to meet them,” said New.

Yet police say Cross confessed to taking the tractor to sell it. Yet he returned it after we showed you the video of the theft during the 11pm news Tuesday night. New says Cross told him he couldn’t stand what people were saying about him on Facebook….after recognizing him.

“Usually when someone steals anything….especially something of this magnitude, you don’t expect to get it back, much less the guy calling you saying he took it,” said New.

Despite his act to return the tractor, Derek Cross is still facing a felony charge punishable by 5 to 10 years in prison.

New says it will up to the funeral home’s board of directors if they pursue any action against Cross on their own.

“I do feel sorry for the man’s family, his children and so on. We’ll have to make a decision on that if we’re asked what our opinion is,” said New.

New says the tractor was returned without any damage.

Cross remains in the Pulaski County Detention Center where a judge was expected to make a decision on his bond Wednesday evening.