Investigator guilty in comic book caper
A former Harris County district attorney investigator was convicted late Thursday of stealing more than $1 million in collectible comic books and sports memorabilia that was being held as evidence in a criminal case.
The former investigator, Dustin Deutsch, 46, is facing up to life in prison as jurors Friday take up the issue of punishment.
Deutsch was convicted largely on the testimony of his former partner, Lonnie Blevins, who said the two men worked together in 2012 to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of vintage comic books and other memorabilia.
The pair were doing an inventory of merchandise and collectibles that filled two houses and seven storage units. The items were considered evidence in a case against a lawyer who bought them with $9 million he was later convicted of embezzling.
The men were working at the storage units on June 12, 2012, when the electricity went out, disabling the sensors and the cameras. At Deutsch’s suggestion, Blevins testified, they took armfuls of the highly valued comic books, in sealed hard plastic shells, including a first edition of Batman.
Blevins was later caught selling the comics to a dealer. He has pleaded guilty to federal charges and faces up to 10 years in prison. He is hoping for leniency from the federal judge in exchange for his testimony against Deutsch.
Deutsch has maintained that Blevins was the thief.
Jurors will begin hearing evidence in the punishment phase Friday with visiting state District Judge Terry Flenniken presiding.