An attorney for a former United Airlines baggage handler accused of stealing from travelers at SFO last Wednesday said prosecutors are piling on theft charges in an attempt to close cases.
At George Reyes' arraignment Wednesday prosecutors announced a new count of embezzlement against the 45-year-old San Francisco man arrested after a police sting. Clad in a dark suit in San Mateo County Superior Court, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Police began to investigate him after more than 50 complaints came in to United about items stolen from passengers' bags, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. The complaints led to a sting operation in which authorities placed GPS tracking devices on iPads and purses in luggage they knew would pass through his hands, Wagstaffe said. Officers pulled him over as he drove home, allegedly with some of the items in his car.
Wagstaffe said investigators found "loads and loads" of other stolen items in Reyes' home. Before the charge being added Wednesday, Reyes faced two counts of embezzlement and one count of having stolen property, all felonies.
Defense attorney Charles B. Smith declined to say whether his client is responsible for the thefts and noted he has cooperated with police.
However, he said the new charge has no basis in fact. Police didn't find the items when they searched Reyes' home. The only tie is that Reyes was working the day the plane was at the San Francisco
International Airport, Smith said.
"Anything that's missing, let's just clear out all the cases and say he did it," Smith said ironically. "I don't follow the logic."
Reyes is out of jail on $50,000 bail and is due back in court June 26.
Contact Joshua Melvin at 650-348-4335. Follow him at Twitter.com/melvinreport.
Copyright 2013 - San Mateo County Times, Calif.
