A teenage former candidate for the House of Representatives recently arrested on suspicion of drug and forgery charges faces new allegations of stealing wakeboards to sell on Craigslist.
Out of custody on supervised release, Anthony Bittner, 18, was re-booked in the Clark County Jail this week on suspicion of two counts of trafficking in stolen property. He was subsequently released back to his parents’ supervision.
The new allegations relate to a Sept. 1 incident uncovered during an ongoing sheriff deputies’ investigation.
Formal charges on all allegations are pending, said Deputy Prosecutor Alan Harvey.
Deputies say Bittner accompanied friend and co-defendant Jorgen Cattin to sell a stolen wakeboard he advertised on Craigslist. The buyer said he was trying to buy back his stolen wakeboard. He arranged to meet the men in Portland and notified police, court documents reveal.
Deputies said seven wakeboards were stolen from two boats in the 100 block of Northeast 54th Street. Six were found in Bittner’s apartment, which he shares with co-defendants Nathan Combs and Cattin, and the seventh is alleged to be the one they tried to sell, according to court documents.
Bittner’s other alleged criminal activity came to light last week after deputies executed a search warrant of his apartment in the 13700 block of Northwest Second Avenue. Inside, they allegedly found marijuana plants, pipes, fake bills and scanners and printers used to make counterfeit $100s, according to court records.
The search warrant followed a Sept. 14 burglary allegedly involving Combs.
Though the investigation is ongoing, Harvey said he has no solid evidence Bittner was involved in the burglary; the burglars were wearing masks.
Bittner made his first court appearance Friday on suspicion of operating a drug house and making counterfeit $100 bills.
Bittner, a 2010 Skyview High School graduate, launched his campaign in March for Jaime Herrera’s open 18th District House seat.
In August’s primary election, he finished last in a seven-way primary race, attracting 575 votes.
He described himself as a Republican with independent ideas and conservative values, campaigning sporadically and raising $4,571.
His next court appearance is Sept. 29.
