May 8, 2009 10:15 am US/Central
Man Gets 7 Years For Stealing Comic Book
Rare Spider-Man Comic Book Never Recovered
CHICAGO (Naperville Sun) ―
Never mess with a superhero. Not even one in print form.
A former fugitive and ex-convict learned that lesson the hard way Thursday, when he was sentenced to seven years in prison for the 2007 theft of a 46-year-old, first-edition Spider-Man comic book from a store in Naperville.
Scott K. Meherg, 28, pleaded guilty Thursday in DuPage County Circuit Court to a felony charge of theft. Judge Peter J. Dockery, who accepted the plea and imposed the prison sentence, also ordered Meherg to pay $980.99 restitution toward the rare comic book, which was never recovered.
Meherg most recently lived in Des Plaines and Cicero, but also has ties to Chicago's southwest suburbs. He spent nearly a year on the run before being arrested last fall by authorities in Texas.
Naperville police Cmdr. Dave Hoffman said Meherg used a bogus check Dec. 10, 2007, to obtain the 1963 edition of "The Amazing Spider-Man, No. 2." The book, which originally sold for 12 cents, was stolen from Graham Crackers Comics at 1271 Rickert Dr. in Naperville.
Meherg spent time browsing in the shop that day before settling on the comic book, Hoffman said in July following Meherg's indictment by a grand jury. He said Meherg even struck up a conversation with the store manager, saying "he wanted to buy the comic book for his father."
Hoffman said police theorized Meherg fled the country following the theft. Naperville police were notified Sept. 25 that Meherg was taken into custody by agents of the Webb County Sheriff's Office in Laredo, Texas, and later extradited to Illinois, Hoffman said.
Repeated attempts late Thursday afternoon and evening to obtain information on Meherg's capture from Webb County Sheriff Public Information Officer Maru De La Paz were unsuccessful.
Meherg has at least one prior conviction for theft.
He was also arrested in August 2001 in Alsip on charges of resisting arrest and battery to a police dog. Meherg kicked the dog several times in the head in an unsuccessful attempt to escape, after police discovered he was wanted on a warrant.
Graham Crackers Comics operates nine stores in Chicago, DeKalb, Downers Grove, Naperville, Plainfield, St. Charles and Wheaton, according to the company's Web site.
The Naperville location was victimized again Feb. 8, when a quartet of women stole a first-edition "Conan The Barbarian, No. 1" comic book and five superhero-themed figurines from an unlocked display case.
Police said the women hid the merchandise inside their coats and smuggled it out of the shop. Two of the figurines were of Batman, while the others were of Batwoman, The Huntress and The Incredible Hulk.
The goods had a total estimated retail value of $1,250, police said. The crime remains unsolved.
By Bill Bird / Naperville Sun
(CBS 2, the Naperville Sun and the Aurora Beacon-News are news partners covering stories in the western suburbs. Send story tips to tips@cbs2chicago.com. (© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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