MESSAGE FROM PROSECUTOR SHERRI BEVAN WALSH

Contact:  April Wiesner

(330) 643-8386

Highland Hills Man Guilty in Motorcycle and Truck Theft

(February 2, 2012… Akron) … Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh announced today that late yesterday a jury found Charles Austin, 25, of Northfield Road in Highland Hills, guilty of two counts of Grand Theft, fourth-degree felonies; two counts of Receiving Stolen Property, fourth-degree felonies; one count of Breaking and Entering, a fifth-degree felony; and one count of Vandalism, a fifth-degree felony.

On September 11, Austin and an accomplice, Brian Collins, 22, of Harvard Avenue in Highland Hills, were picked up in Cleveland by a friend driving a stolen van. The three men drove to the Kohl’s in Springfield Township, where they stole a pickup truck and trailer. They then all drove to Joe’s Hawg Shop in Norton. After stealing two motorcycles and loading them into the stolen pickup, the three men headed back to Cleveland. As they were driving to Cleveland, the truck was reported stolen. Police were able to locate the truck using the GPS in the truck. After an hour-long car chase, Austin and Collins were apprehended. The third man was able to escape on foot.

Collins pleaded guilty to Receiving Stolen Property in December. Judge Tom Parker will sentence Austin on February 28 at 1:00 p.m.

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