Burton Village Man Charged in ATV Theft Ring
“Adkins claimed he was transporting the ATVs to the Cleveland area to sell for cash.” – Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand
Geauga County Sheriff’s Office deputies teamed up with other law enforcement agencies to bust an ATV theft ring that was victimizing Burton area residents earlier this year.
Following a nearly four-month investigation, deputies arrested 32-year-old Earl J. Adkins, of 13611 Carlton St., Burton Village, on July 7 after he was traffic stopped operating a U-Haul truck with two stolen ATVs from Troy Township.
After he was transported to the sheriff’s office, Adkins admitted to several ATV thefts from the Troy, Auburn and Burton townships, Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand told the Geauga County Maple Leaf.
“Adkins claimed he was transporting the ATVs to the Cleveland area to sell for cash,” the sheriff added.
On Aug. 30, a grand jury indicted him on 16 felony counts, ranging from engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity to grand theft of a motor vehicle, to breaking and entering.
He is alleged to have stolen nine ATVs or dirt bikes between April 27 and July 7.
“The top count is a racketeering charged based upon the organized criminal activity the defendant was involved in,” Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz told the Geauga County Maple Leaf Sept. 6. “The sheriff’s office is still working to identify other members of the ring.”
Adkins will be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 13 in Geauga County Common Pleas Court.
