There’s a motions hearing schooled today for an Ohio man who is facing 111 criminal charges in a chop shop case involving stolen trailers which were sold in western Pennsylvania, including in Indiana County.
43-year-old John Douglas Reed, Jr. of Lima, Ohio is one of two people accused in the scheme. At the time of Reed’s arrest, District Attorney Pat Dougherty explained that Reed and Herbert Hines III would steal the pricey specialized trailers and sell them cheaply on Craigslist, making it appear as if the trailers were so inexpensive because they were part of a foreclosure. Five of the trailers were sold to a Brush Valley car dealer for $50,000. However, after the dealership sold the trailers, customers began suspecting that their VIN numbers were altered.
Reed’s attorney has filed a number of motions seeking to damage the prosecution’s case, including a writ of habeas corpus and, two weeks ago, a motion to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction. He has also filed a notice of alibi defense.
Judge Thomas Bianco has scheduled the hearing on the motions this morning.
There is also a motion hearing scheduled today in another case. 39-year-old Veronica Martel of Gipsy is charged with making a false report falsely incriminating another person, and two counts of resisting arrest.