A 19-year-old Centralia resident scored big in May when he netted over $7,000 after pawning his inherited coin collection. Three months later, the enterprising teen was arrested.
Prosecutors now allege Angel A. Lopez stole the coins from his girlfriend’s grandfather.
Lopez made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday to face one count of first-degree theft and five counts of first-degree trafficking in stolen property. Each count is considered a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
A judge released the teen on a $10,000 unsecured bond and scheduled an arraignment for Thursday.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Centralia police began investigating the possible theft in June after a man reported his coin collection — valued at approximately $4,000 — had been stolen from his home.
The man suspected his granddaughter’s boyfriend, who had reportedly stayed at the home for about three to four months until he was “kicked out,” according to the affidavit.
The victim said he’d allowed Lopez to return to the home to collect his belongings, but said he wasn’t always there when Lopez was.
Police eventually contacted Lopez, who allegedly admitted to selling the collection to the owner of a coin shop for about $1,000, according to the affidavit.
Police spoke to the owner, who provided five receipts totalling $7,379.50. The five purchases were made on May 6, May 7, May 12 and May 26.
According to the affidavit, Lopez allegedly told police he’d been given permission to sell the coins. The store owner said Lopez told him he’d inherited the coins from his dead grandfather.
