Lawsuits filed against robbery suspects

[Arizona Coin Collector]

FROM:
http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/69623/

Lawsuits filed against robbery suspects

By Tracy M. Neal Staff Writer
tra...@nwanews.com

Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009

BENTONVILLE - Roger Trautman is suing the suspects
that are accused of stealing a silver bar and other
collectibles from him.

Bentonville attorney Bryan Vernetti filed the lawsuit
Thursday in Benton County Circuit Court on behalf of
Trautman against Alicia Dawn Linn, Maxwell Horton,
Adam Wayne Phillips, Brandon Windham and Jonathan
Ray Hodge.

The suit concerns the Aug. 15, 2008, robbery from
Trautman's residence at 1010 S.W. A St.

The suit claims that the stolen items were worth more
than $250,000 and consisted of rare coins, cash, a
silver bar, rare books, rare manuscripts, family
heirlooms, family correspondence and family jewelry.

Trautman reported to Bentonville police two safes
were removed from a closet in his apartment. He
reported to police that the safes contained $9,000
in cash; a silver bar stamped Royal Canadian Mint
valued at $20,000; five gold eagle coins valued at
$1,000 each; 10 gold coins known as a type set,
with an estimated value of $10,000; and a rare D.H.
Lawrence first-edition book with an estimated value
of $5,000. One safe also contained a canvas bag
containing silver coins with an estimated value of
$10,000, according to court documents. Various World
War II medals were also missing, court documents
state.

Police questioned Trautman's maintenance man
- Hodge -- and he admitted his involvement in the
crime to Bentonville Police Department detective
Mike Stegall.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Hodge
told police that his roommate, Phillips, saw money
in one of the safes, then convinced Hodge to steal
the safes.

Phillips claimed they took the safes to Windham's
home in Springdale, where they used a cutting torch
and crowbars to break into the safes.

Phillips claimed Windham was under the belief that
the safes belonged to Phillips' father, and they
gave Windham $200 for cutting open the safes, the
affidavit states.

Phillips claimed they sold the silver bar for $30
to a person in Fayetteville because they thought
it was a lead bar, the affidavit states. Phillips
claimed they needed $30 for gasoline, according
to the affidavit.

Linn admitted to selling some coins for $5,700
and $360 to a business in Fayetteville in two
different transactions, according to the affidavit.

Stegall recovered some of the coins. One alone
was valued at an estimated $5,000, according to
court documents. Police also recovered the silver
bar.

The criminal cases against the five have not been
resolved.

According to Trautman's suit, among the stolen
items were his mother's wedding ring and military
medals and awards that belonged to his father.

The suit alleges that the theft of his family
heirlooms has caused Trautman and his other
family members physical anguish, embarrassment,
mental anguish, grief, distress of mind, chest
pains and nausea.

Trautman is seeking $250,000 in monetary damages
for the stolen items. The suit is also seeking
punitive damages from the suspects.

The lawsuit is assigned to Circuit Judge
David Clinger.

..