A 54-year-old Rifle man has been accused of running a statewide motorcycle theft ring and chop shop out of his Rifle business, according to a state grand jury indictment.
Edward Degner, owner of Ed’s Custom Painting in Rifle, allegedly ran the operation between April 2004 and April 2007, stealing Harley Davidson, American Iron Horse and other motorcycle brands from owners in the Denver area and other parts of Colorado, according to the indictment.
In addition to owning the business, Degner had been employed with Eagle County’s Fleet Services Department as an auto body repair technician since December, the county human resources department said.
Degner’s job with the county has been terminated, Lynn Laposky, Eagle County’s human resources manager, said in a statement.
Laposky said there was no evidence he used any county facilities or equipment in his alleged crimes, and Degner had no criminal history when the county did a background check on him before he was hired.
Degner was indicted on 14 counts of aggravated motor-vehicle theft and four counts of stolen auto parts.
According to the indictment, Degner used various individuals — yet to be identified — to carry out most of the thefts. The motorcycles were then brought to Degner in Rifle, where he allegedly hid the true identity of the motorcycles by destroying their vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and restamping fraudulent VIN numbers on them.
Degner also allegedly repainted some of the motorcycles to change their appearance, the grand jury alleged.
Degner then presented documents to state authorities claiming he had built the motorcycles from secondary parts or that they were entirely homemade.
Degner allegedly sold the stolen bikes after he altering them at his shop.
Degner, who is being held in lieu of $270,000 bail, is to appear in Denver County Court on May 11.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
