Men wanted in Stevie Ray Vaughan memorabilia thefts

06:42 PM CDT on Monday, June 18, 2007

KVUE News staff reports

More than $125,000 worth of Austin-legend Stevie Ray Vaughan memorabilia has been seized in connection with two storage unit thefts in Central Austin earlier this year.

According to the arrest affidavit, police cracked the case when they arrested a 29-year-old man for possessing methamphetamine at a North Austin hotel in April. While searching James Matthew Malone's room, they found several items that had once belonged to Vaughan, including guitar picks, a bolo tie with the initials "SRV," unused concert tickets, backstage passes and a guitar.

Austin police detectives pieced the clues together and say that Malone stole the items and others from a U-Haul storage unit on East 46th Street that belonged to Vaughan's brother, musician Jimmie Vaughan. The storage unit was burglarized in February, as well as late April or early May. What's more, police say Malone had rented a storage unit in the same building as Jimmy Vaughan's unit.

Investigators say Malone then tried to sell the items. Court documents show he had approached a Stevie Ray Museum in Dallas. They say he also sold several items, including a snake skin guitar strap, to a concerned citizen who called police, and tried to place up to $70,000 worth of memorabilia for consignment through the Heritage Auction House in Dallas.

Malone was charged with theft, a second degree felony. His bond was set at $132,000. A second man accused of helping Malone sell the items -- Michael Shane Winders, 38 -- has also been charged with theft.

All of the found items were seized, but detectives say more is missing, including six guitars worth several hundred thousand dollars.

Stevie Ray Vaughan's fan club president is concerned over which guitars are still missing.

"When I heard that there was a probability that Jimmie's warehouse had been broken into and some of Stevie's things had been stolen, including guitars, I was really surprised and dismayed that somebody would do that," said Craig Hopkins, fan club president. "Of course, depending on which ones they are, they could be worth anywhere from $10,000 to $1 million."

Jimmie Vaughan's manager, Cory Moore, told KVUE Stevie Ray Vaughan's most famous guitar, Number One, was not among the property stolen. He said much of the items taken belonged to Jimmie, and he appreciates the community's support in this investigation.

Police are asking for the public's help to find Winders and Malone. They say they could be anywhere in the U.S.

"We ask the public to call the Austin Police Department or call 9-1-1 if they're seen or if they know where they're at -- another city another state, so we can get them apprehended," said Lt. John Colunga, Austin Police Department.

If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers at 472-TIPS.

http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/06 … 85b86.html