William Rupert Johns
A third man has been charged in the theft of the “Chattahooligan” trailer that belongs to rabid CFC soccer fans.
William Rupert Johns, 52, is charged with two counts of theft over $10,000, theft of property, and altering a serial number.
Police said Johns is also charged in other trailer thefts.
Two men who had been charged earlier in the case briefly appeared in General Sessions Court on Tuesday in order to get a new court date. Aaron Chippoletti, 28, and Erika Mays, 28, were arrested last Wednesday. They will have a hearing next Tuesday.
Police said it was found that Chippoletti and his girlfriend Mays had sold the trailer on Facebook Market to Robert Tucker. Tucker said he met the pair and an older white male at Hardees in Red Bank.
Chippoletti and Ms. Mays both said it was Johns who stole the trailer and was driving a gray Toyota Sequoia at Hardees. They said he brought it to their residence at 425 Shawnee Trail and they broke into the trailer and took out some of the merchandise.
They said Johns left with the trailer.
Both were charged with theft over $10,000, and Judge Gary Starnes pointed out that Chippoletti is facing revocation, as he was out on bond during the incident. An estimated $18,000 worth of supplies, merchandise, and material were in the trailer.
While some has been recovered, the majority is still missing. The trailer was empty when law enforcement found it.
The theft occurred sometime between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 at a site on Chestnut Street. The $15,000 trailer was marked with CFC logo stickers and had shelves built in to hold merchandise. It was full of merchandise when it was stolen.
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