14 DAY TRIAL // Not everyone was stricken with grief when actor Paul Walker died tragically and violently in a car crash in November of last year in Los Angeles. Some had their eyes set on making some money from the tragedy. Two men have just pleaded no contest to stealing from the Paul Walker wreckage.
The LA Times reports that Anthony Janow, 26, and Jameson Witty, 18, pleaded no contest in court to the misdemeanor charges brought against them for destroying evidence and resisting or delaying a police officer on Wednesday, August 6.
For their actions, the pair are looking at a possible six-month sentence in jail. Janow also pleaded guilty to felony grand theft and Witty to misdemeanor grand theft. As the prosecution presented the case, both men stole a roof panel from a tow truck that was hauling away the car wreckage from the crash site.
They did so even after they were told by a police deputy that they weren't allowed to take any vehicle parts as the site was a crime scene. Their theft was observed by the driver of the tow truck when he stopped at a red light. He reported it to the authorities.
This led to the opening of an investigation that culminated with the issuing of two search warrants that were served to the suspects. Investigators say they found some of the stolen parts in a home in Canyon County.
The case was made clear when Witty posted a photo of part of the wreckage he stole on Instagram, presumably for bragging rights. The photo was captioned “Piece of Paul walkers car, took it off a tow truck at a stop light…#paulwalker” #rip #comeup.”
When he began getting negative responses to his post, Witty took down the photo and apologized, claiming that he had planned to make a memorial out of the stolen part.
Witty later said that “Paul was a childhood idol to me and many. At the time I was not thinking about the consequences it could have, I never wanted it to be like this I wasn’t going to sell the piece to make a profit. Nobody in this world is perfect, we all make mistakes. Some bigger than others.”
The crash in which Paul Walker was killed took place on November 30, 2013, and it also took the life of Paul's business partner and friend, Roger Rodas. Ulterior autopsy reports showed that the two died on impact or shortly after, when the Porsche Carrera GT they were riding in collided with a lamp post at high speed and subsequently burst into flame.
The two men are now awaiting their sentencing. Witty will have to return to court to receive his sentence on August 14, while Janow will be back on October 23.