BUENA, N.J. (AP) - Three people face charges in the theft of an NBA player's autographed photo that was being auctioned to benefit a New Jersey boy sick with a rare blood disorder.
The arrests came after a newspaper published an article Thursday about the incident at a charity event for 9-year-old Vineland resident Michael Barner.Police say a Vineland couple and their friend told the boy's relatives someone mistakenly put the framed photo into a prize basket one of them had won. They say that person then tried to return the photo of Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Willie Green, which the team had donated for the April 18 event.
But police say all three eventually admitted their roles in the scheme and face charges including theft and evidence tampering.
The theft charge carries up to 18 months in prison upon conviction.
