Avon Middle School art teacher Anne Maiden has been tied to five vehicle break-ins in two local park systems, and at least a half dozen other agencies in Lorain and Medina counties want to talk to her, according to Pat McCaslin, assistant director and chief ranger for the Lorain County Metro Parks.
This picture of Anne Maiden ran in The Chronicle in 2007 when she was featured in the "15 minutes" spotlight column. Maiden, of Elyria, was owner of Clay Dog Pottery in Elyria and an organizer of the Elyria Art Walk. It was not clear immediately whether she was still involved with either. (CT file photo.)
McCaslin said this afternoon that Maiden, 38, of Elyria, will be facing charges for using credit cards taken from vehicles during two break-ins in the Lorain County Metro Parks. McCaslin didn’t have specifics on what the charges were and said she couldn’t say whether Maiden was involved in the break-ins themselves or just the credit card use.
“Credit cards were stolen from purses in the vehicles, they were used, and video from the stores was determined to be Anne Maiden,” McCaslin said. “We’ve interviewed her, and she’s admitted to some of the use.”
The video showed Maiden purchasing a large television and gift cards, McCaslin said.
Maiden had been charged with receiving stolen property, forgery and misuse of a credit card, all felonies, after being tied to three break-ins in the Cleveland Metro Parks.
Maiden was “definitely involved in the break-ins” themselves in the Cleveland Metroparks, according to Dianna Kall, spokeswoman for the Metroparks’ rangers, but Kall said she couldn’t say whether Maiden acted alone.
And this may be just the tip of the iceberg for Maiden.
“We’ve talked with other agencies,” McCaslin said. “At least a half dozen other agencies are interested in talking with her and have similar video of her using cards. We’re the least hit.”
The other agencies include counties, cities and villages in Lorain and Medina counties, McCaslin said.
The Cleveland Metroparks break-ins were one each in August, September and October. Hit were an unlocked car at Millstream Run Reservation in Strongsville, and cars at the Bradley Woods Reservation in Westlake and the Little Met Golf Course in Cleveland that had their windows broken.
The Lorain County Metro Parks break-ins were cars at Day’s Dam in the Black River Reservation in Lorain and the Columbia Reservation.
Maiden appeared in The Chronicle in 2007 when she was featured in the “15 minutes” column. Maiden at the time owned Clay Dog Pottery in Elyria and told The Chronicle she was an organizer of the Elyria Art Walk.
Maiden told The Chronicle her specialty was nature-themed pottery and “Raku” fire pottery.
About her art, she said, “I don’t think it’s ever going to be a job. I don’t want to ‘go to work.’ I’m never so satisfied as when I’m at an art show and people are buying my work. I love getting people hooked on pottery because I love it so much.”
Read Friday’s Chronicle for more on this story.
Contact Rona Proudfoot at 329-7124 or rproudfoot@chroniclet.com.
