Man Pawned Guitars Without Paying Owner, Police Say

A 40-year-old Morrisville man allegedly posed as an antiques and collectibles dealer to help sell a pair of guitars valued at more than $10,000 instead caused the owner to shell out money to pawn shops to buy the guitars back. 

Paul B Starr of the 3100 block of Chatham Drive, earned $1,000 for a July 6 sale of a Gibson guitar and a Harmony acoustic guitar to a pawn shop, according to Bensalem Police.

Starr, who police said told the guitars' owner that he was an antiques and collectibles dealer, allegedly agreed to find a buyer for the guitars, but instead pawned them, pocketed the money and made excuses–ranging from the death of family members, to a car accident–about why he had not secured a buyer. 

The owner, in turn, earlier this month paid $10,091 to purchase his guitars back, according to court documents. 

Starr was arrested and charged with theft by deception/failure to correct and receiving stolen property, both felony offenses. He remains free on $5,000 bail and awaits a preliminary hearing next week.