Two individuals found themselves in a legal pickle after being accused of purloining a staggering $2 million worth of antique baseball cards from a Best Western hotel in Strongsville. Jacob Paxton, a 27-year-old employee of the hotel, and Jason Bowling, aged 50, had their day in court at the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, where they ardently pleaded not guilty to the allegations on Thursday.
Paxton stood accused of aggravated theft surpassing $1.5 million and tampering with evidence. His bond was fixed at $50,000, awaiting his next hearing scheduled for July 15. On the other hand, Bowling faced a charge of possessing stolen property, set at a higher bond of $100,000, with a corresponding court appearance also scheduled for July 15.
The saga unfolded when a package was mistakenly delivered by a FedEx worker to the hotel on April 17. This parcel, containing a collection of 54 priceless vintage baseball cards valued at a jaw-dropping $2,123,447, was intended for Memory Lane Inc., a company participating in a sports card convention nearby. However, upon the realization that the package had vanished when a representative from Memory Lane Inc. came calling on April 18, the wheels of justice were set in motion.
Subsequent investigations by the Strongsville police unveiled a trail leading to Paxton, who had allegedly pilfered the cards and ferried them to Bowling’s residence in Cleveland. The authorities swiftly obtained a search warrant and descended on Bowling’s abode on May 23, successfully recovering 52 out of the 54 stolen cards in a dramatic turn of events.
Alas, the missing duo from the stolen collection were the 1909 Ramly Walter Johnson card and the 1941 Ted Williams card, continuing to elude the grasp of law enforcement. The hunt for these elusive items has been extended to the public, with a plea from the Strongsville Police for any information leading to their recovery, urging individuals to reference report #2024-000693 and reach out at 440.580.3247.
As the legal dance unfolds, the two defendants have staunchly maintained their innocence in the face of these grave accusations, setting the stage for a legal battle that has captured the attention of the community. Who will emerge victorious in this high-stakes game of legal chess, where the prized possession isn’t a card, but one’s freedom? The saga continues to grip audiences, eager to witness the next move in this captivating tale of alleged theft and the pursuit of justice.
