Indiana County Judge Thomas Bianco will conduct a hearing today on a defense motion asking for the dismissal of charges against a Dayton, Ohio man who is accused of taking part in a chop shop scheme in Indiana County.
Herbert Hines III was originally charged last year with 91 criminal offenses, some of which have been modified but all of which have been remanded to court. The charges include multiple counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, conspiracy to both of those offenses, alteration or destruction of a vehicle identification number, disposition of a vehicle with an altered VIN number, and conspiracy to both of those offenses. There are also charges of criminal use of a communication facility, tampering with public records, and more conspiracy filings.
Investigators allege that Hines and 43-year-old John Douglas Reed Jr. of Lima, Ohio stole expensive customized trailers and sold them cheaply on Craiglist, making it appear the trailers were priced so cheaply because they’d been part of a foreclosure. Five of the trailers were sold to a Brush Valley car dealer for $50,000, who then sold them to customers, unaware that they’d been stolen.
Reed’s attorney has also asked for the dismissal of charges, claiming lack of jurisdiction. At a hearing last month, an amended notice of alibi was filed on Reed’s behalf, and this past Monday, Judge William Martin granted a prosecution request for an extension of time to respond, giving the D.A.’s office until September 3rd.
The motions hearing for Hines is scheduled before Judge Bianco at 8:30 this morning.
