A Soldotna man was charged with theft after allegedly stealing and reselling a family heirloom.
James G. Dove, 40, faces one count of second-degree theft for allegedly taking a silver tea set from a Soldotna home and reselling it for $1,250 to a Peninsula Center Mall coin shop.
The tea set was spotted for sale in May by its owner, who had reported in February that a number of items had been stolen from his home while he was out of state, according to an Alaska State Trooper affidavit filed with the court.
The alleged victim, who reported at the time that tools, pieces of art and rare pistols were missing, told investigators that he believed Dove had taken the items because he needed money to support his drug habit, according to the affidavit.
The owner of the Soldotna coin shop selling the tea set told troopers that he bought the item in April from Dove, who had provided a copy of his driver’s license. The owner of the shop then identified Dove as the man who had sold him the set, according to the affidavit. Dove, who initially denied seeing the tea set, reportedly then told troopers he had taken the set and sold it.
In June, the owner of the tea set also found a Honda generator — which he had reported stolen earlier in the year — at a local pawn shop. The owner paid $350 to get the generator back, troopers reported. The pawn shop provided a record that Dove had sold the generator in January, according to the affidavit.
Troopers reported that drugs are a factor in the case. The court issued a summons to Dove to appear in court later this month.
Reach Erin Thompson at ethompson@peninsulaclarion.com.
