Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Sailboat theft, only one person charged


San Francisco Chronicle, 3/6/13.  "Two suspects to be freed in sailboat theft."

"Two of the three people arrested in connection with the theft of a luxury sailboat from Sausalito didn't know the vessel was stolen and will be freed without being charged, prosecutors said Wednesday.

A boatyard worker rides past the Darling at Bay Marine Boatworks in Richmond, Calif. on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. Three people remain in custody after they reportedly stole the 82' vessel from a marina in Sausalito and ran the boat aground in Pacifica early Monday morning. Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle
Stolen sailboat being repaired in Richmond, CA
The only person to face charges in the case will be Leslie Gardner, 63, of Gillette, Wyo., authorities said. He is scheduled to be arraigned later Wednesday in San Mateo County Superior Court on five felonies, including grand theft, possession of a stolen boat and vandalism.

Authorities say Gardner stole the 82-foot Darling from the Sausalito Yacht Harbor early Monday. The boat made it to Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, where it ran aground shortly before dawn.

The sailboat is owned by John Fruth, who watched as the three were removed from the boat Monday but has declined to comment. Authorities have not said how Gardner allegedly targeted the sailboat. He is being held on just over $1 million bail."   Read article,  includes 20 photographs by Paul Chinn.

Related articles - San Francisco Chronicle, continuing articles.  Fix Pacifica reprint:  Palo Alto Daily News reprint  Crime floated in..3/4/13,  and  Pacifica police press release, 3/4/13.

UpdateSan Mateo County Times/Joshua Melvin, 10/23/13. "Man who crashed stolen yacht ordered to pay $1.3 million, DA says."  "Leslie Alan Gardner, who claimed the 82-foot boat was his, was to leave San Mateo County jail Wednesday but will still have to pay $1.38 million in restitution for costs stemming from the Darling's theft, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. The March 4 crash into Linda Mar beach damaged the $2.7 million boat so significantly it had to be sent to England, where it was originally built, for repairs."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The sailboat crooks looked like they would fit in with the Pacifica hippies perfect!

Kathy Meeh said...

Update on article,"Man who crashed stolen yacht ordered to pay $1.3 million, DA says." San Mateo County Times, 10/23/13.

Anonymous said...

The hippie who stole the sailboat probably doesn't have 13 bucks.