The man accused of stealing more than $2 million worth of rare vintage baseball cards prior to a show earlier this year has pleaded not guilty.
Jacob Paxton, 27, of Brunswick, is charged with aggravated theft of $1.5 million or more and tampering with evidence. He appeared in the Cuyahoga (OH) Court of Common Pleas Thursday morning.
Paxton was arrested in May. Strongsville Police investigators say he took the large box containing over 50 cards that had been delivered to the hotel after being shipped from the offices of Memory Lane in Southern California. The company had planned to display them at the Strongsville Sports Collectors Show ahead of its spring auction.
Despite a no questions asked reward being offered by Memory Lane, police say Paxton took them to a home in the Cleveland area where they were later recovered after police received a tip. After the cards were discovered missing and the investigation began, SC Daily learned Paxton denied involvement but didn’t return to work at the hotel.
Two cards—a 1941 Play Ball Ted Williams and a 1909 Ramly Walter Johnson remain missing.
The person accused of accepting the cards from Paxton, 50-year-old Jason Bowling, also pleaded not guilty Thursday. He’d charged with receiving stolen property.
Both men were indicted by a grand jury earlier this month.
Paxton is being held in jail on $50,000 bond. Bowling remains in jail as well on $100,000 bond.
They are due back in court for pre-trial hearings on July 15.
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