Man Charged in Fenway Park Thefts
A Massachusetts man is being charged for possessing stolen property in both Massachusetts and New York after trying to sell stolen items from Fenway Park through Lelands auction house.
Jamie Pritchard Holland, 32, of Nahant, Mass., told Lelands he needed to sell the items to pay for a sick child's medical bills, according to the Associated Press. Among the items Holland was attempting to sell were a home plate from the Fenway Park bullpen, an outfield distance marker (380 feet) that was signed by Red Sox great Johnny Pesky, a first-base glove used by Kevin Youkilis, cleats worn by second baseman Dustin Pedroia; and other team property such as equipement bags and warm-up jackets.
In truth, Holland mad eup the story, and the items were scheduled for an auction last December. According to the Associated Press, however, investgators contacted police after seeing the items being offered and matching them with the reported stolen items from Fenway Park. Police then went to Lelands and seized the items.
According to the story, Josh Evans, head of Lelands, paid $2,000 in an advance for the items after hearing Holland's story. Evans told the AP that Holland, "seemed like a very genuine guy and had this very sad story about his son dying." Evans said all of the items were publicized, including their origin, on the company's website. The items could have brought up to $25,000, Evans said.
Prosecutors did not file charges until last week, accordng to the story, because authorities in both New York and Massachusetts are still investigating the theft of the items.
