Bettendorf pawnbrokers pay fine for buying stolen jewelry

Two Bettendorf pawn shop employees accused of buying $16,000 worth of stolen jewelry, and not giving it back to its rightful owner after she came into the store, will each pay a $625 fine and will spend one year on probation. A Scott County judge accepted Jeffrey Hughes and Shane Tague's Alford pleas. An Alford plea allows defendants in criminal cases to not admit guilt, but rather admit the prosecution would likely win its case if it went to trial.

The Scott County Attorney's office dropped a more serious theft charge in exchange for the pleas.The plea deal was offered as a result of a related civil case. As part of that civil case a diamond was returned to the victim.

The man who pleaded guilty to stealing the jewelry and selling it to the pawn shop, Trevor Moss, will pay the victim $1,100 hundred. That's what he received from the pawnbrokers for selling the jewelry.