Help me get my stolen music collection back
Donation protected
"Only those you trust can betray you." -- Terry Goodkind
Greetings. I’m radio host Dennis Mitchell. I am the host of the weekly internationally-syndicated show “Breakfast With The Beatles.” I also manage an internet radio station (High-Quality Rock), and produce other features for radio including The Rock Diary. I’ve learned that loyal listeners, music fans (especially Beatles fans) and vinyl collectors are just the very best people.
During March while I was away, at least two individuals stole all of my personal belongings, including my entire music collection, from my Las Vegas home and placed them out of my reach. Taken without my permission were at least 4,000 vinyl records, my Technics II turntable, hundreds of CD’s, music & sports memorabilia, guitars, electronic equipment and other materials I use to produce “Breakfast With The Beatles” and much more. After four months, the perpetrators have yet to say why they did this or what they want. It has been an extremely painful episode because I know two of the people involved and they used to be dear friends. It amounts to a deeply personal attack. I suspect at least part of their motive was to cheat the system and gain some kind of advantage in an ongoing legal matter. My possessions are literally being held hostage with no demands having been made. The crimes committed included burglary, grand larceny, conspiracy, trespassing, harassment and secreting of assets, but Nevada has declined to prosecute because the state considers it “a civil matter.” Webster defines "stealing" as "The act of taking feloniously the personal property of another without his consent and knowledge; theft; larceny."
The items were stolen from a studio/office I spent 25+ years building, decorating and maintaining. It was my den, "man cave" and studio, a festive, fun gathering place for friends and family. I may never get over the shock of finding the room stripped completely bare, and the discovery that all the items representing my life's hard work were ripped off and taken away in what appears to be a scam. As of right now, I don’t know where any of my stuff is. I am working with an excellent lawyer to get it all back, but lawyers cost money and that’s why I set up this account. My lawyer is on a periodic retainer but radio is hurting big-time because of the virus, so I’m unemployed and if it wasn't for contributions to this point, I wouldn't have been able to keep her on board. She is a Covid-19 survivor! I have used donations from this account strictly to pay her fees and will continue to do so. I am hopeful for an outcome that will allow me to pay each contributor back when it's all over.
This incident has turned my life upside down. It amounts to harassment of the cruelest kind. I am appealing to the music-loving and record-collecting communities to please help me get my precious collection back so that I can once again share it with you on the air. Thank you!
UPDATE MAY 2, 2020: I just want to thank you a ton for your early support. I hope to have an update on the situation soon. -- DM
UPDATE MAY 13, 2020: Progress! An injunction is now in place that prohibits the sale or any other transfer of my belongings. A lawyer's conference and hearing are set for between now and June 22. Your concern and generosity are helping not only now, but will enable me to lay the groundwork for civil lawsuits afterwards. -- DM
UPDATE JUNE 5, 2020: My lawyer has confirmed that at least some of my belongings are in a storage space somewhere in Las Vegas. That’s of deep concern, as storage space burglaries in that city are rampant, and temperatures have been above 110 there recently. We are looking forward to a conference and hearing as a first step toward getting my things back, and to offset the lack of cooperation so far from the people who did this to me. Thank you again for your support and encouragement. I’ll update again soon.
Greetings. I’m radio host Dennis Mitchell. I am the host of the weekly internationally-syndicated show “Breakfast With The Beatles.” I also manage an internet radio station (High-Quality Rock), and produce other features for radio including The Rock Diary. I’ve learned that loyal listeners, music fans (especially Beatles fans) and vinyl collectors are just the very best people.
During March while I was away, at least two individuals stole all of my personal belongings, including my entire music collection, from my Las Vegas home and placed them out of my reach. Taken without my permission were at least 4,000 vinyl records, my Technics II turntable, hundreds of CD’s, music & sports memorabilia, guitars, electronic equipment and other materials I use to produce “Breakfast With The Beatles” and much more. After four months, the perpetrators have yet to say why they did this or what they want. It has been an extremely painful episode because I know two of the people involved and they used to be dear friends. It amounts to a deeply personal attack. I suspect at least part of their motive was to cheat the system and gain some kind of advantage in an ongoing legal matter. My possessions are literally being held hostage with no demands having been made. The crimes committed included burglary, grand larceny, conspiracy, trespassing, harassment and secreting of assets, but Nevada has declined to prosecute because the state considers it “a civil matter.” Webster defines "stealing" as "The act of taking feloniously the personal property of another without his consent and knowledge; theft; larceny."
The items were stolen from a studio/office I spent 25+ years building, decorating and maintaining. It was my den, "man cave" and studio, a festive, fun gathering place for friends and family. I may never get over the shock of finding the room stripped completely bare, and the discovery that all the items representing my life's hard work were ripped off and taken away in what appears to be a scam. As of right now, I don’t know where any of my stuff is. I am working with an excellent lawyer to get it all back, but lawyers cost money and that’s why I set up this account. My lawyer is on a periodic retainer but radio is hurting big-time because of the virus, so I’m unemployed and if it wasn't for contributions to this point, I wouldn't have been able to keep her on board. She is a Covid-19 survivor! I have used donations from this account strictly to pay her fees and will continue to do so. I am hopeful for an outcome that will allow me to pay each contributor back when it's all over.
This incident has turned my life upside down. It amounts to harassment of the cruelest kind. I am appealing to the music-loving and record-collecting communities to please help me get my precious collection back so that I can once again share it with you on the air. Thank you!
UPDATE MAY 2, 2020: I just want to thank you a ton for your early support. I hope to have an update on the situation soon. -- DM
UPDATE MAY 13, 2020: Progress! An injunction is now in place that prohibits the sale or any other transfer of my belongings. A lawyer's conference and hearing are set for between now and June 22. Your concern and generosity are helping not only now, but will enable me to lay the groundwork for civil lawsuits afterwards. -- DM
UPDATE JUNE 5, 2020: My lawyer has confirmed that at least some of my belongings are in a storage space somewhere in Las Vegas. That’s of deep concern, as storage space burglaries in that city are rampant, and temperatures have been above 110 there recently. We are looking forward to a conference and hearing as a first step toward getting my things back, and to offset the lack of cooperation so far from the people who did this to me. Thank you again for your support and encouragement. I’ll update again soon.
Organizer
Dennis Mitchell
Organizer
Santa Barbara, CA
