x
Breaking News
More () »

Beaumont man faces felony charges after allegedly stealing iPads from West Brook High

The devices were sold and advertised from a person pretending to be a teacher or former teacher on Mercari.

BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont man is facing felony charges after being accused of stealing 25 iPads from West Brook High School.

21-year-old Courtland Augustus Pender allegedly stole the iPads sometime after June 19, 2020, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Pender listed the iPads for sale on a Mercari website. The devices were sold and advertised from a person pretending to be a teacher or former teacher under the profile name “NOBETTERTHENU.”

Officials launched an investigation and later identified Pender as a suspect.

Investigators spoke with three people that purchased the stolen iPads and asked one of them to contact the distributor in an attempt to get a return address and ship the iPads back.

The “NOBETTERTHENU” account responded to the request with a Beaumont location that was identical to an address listed on Pender’s student data summary sheet when he attended what's now called Beaumont United High School.

Video evidence from the Tobe Hahn Post Office in Beaumont also showed Pender mailing what investigators suspected to be iPads on Sept. 23-29, 2020.

Pender has been charged with theft of property and impersonating a public servant, according to the affidavit.

GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device 

CRIME STOPPERS | Submit a tip @ 833Tips.com

If you have information about a crime, you could earn a cash reward of up to $1000 by providing an ANONYMOUS tip to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas.

Call 833-TIPS (8477) or text “BMT” followed by your tip information to CRIMES (274637) from your mobile phone.

Send us a news tip | Download our app | 12News Morning Rush Newsletter

Also on 12Newsnow.com...

Before You Leave, Check This Out