Two men accused of stealing parts from the Porsche “Fast and the Furious” star Paul Walker and CEO Roger Rodas were in at the time of their fatal crash are due back in court, officials said Thursday.
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Jameson Witty, 18, of Tujunga, and Anthony Edward Janow, 25, of Phoenix, are due back June 18 for a preliminary hearing setting.
The Porsche in a fatal crash that killed Fast and the Furious star Paul Walker and Valencia CEO Roger Rodas was traveling about 100 mph, according to a Coroner’s Office report, a claim being challenged in a recent lawsuit.
Related article: Roger Rodas’s Wife Sues Porsche Over Crash That Killed Paul Walker
The crash rendered the Porsche barely recognizable, and as the wrecked vehicle was towed away from the scene, Witty and Janow allegedly stole parts from the Porsche while the wreck was on a tow truck at a traffic light.
A message on an Instagram account called “jamesonwitty” shortly after the crash contained the message: “Piece of Paul walkers car, took it off a tow truck at a stop light #paulwalker #rip #comeup” was found shortly after the crash.
At a preliminary hearing, a judge will review the evidence and decide if there is enough to warrant a trial.
Sheriff’s detectives released a statement noting they intended to file felony Grand Theft (487(a) CA Penal Code) and Tampering with Evidence (135 CA Penal Code) charges against both suspects.
When the tow truck left the scene at about 10 p.m. that night, several vehicles followed it eastbound on Newhall Ranch Road.
At one point the driver of the tow truck stopped at the red light, while headed eastbound on Newhall Ranch Road at McBean Parkway.
A witness saw a male exit a vehicle that was following the tow truck and grab a piece of the wrecked Porsche off the tow truck bed. The male drove away with the stolen vehicle part.
The tow truck driver reported the theft to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, and their investigation yielded two suspects.
A stolen vehicle part was later recovered by sheriff’s detectives serving a search warrant at a residence in Canyon Country. The car part was a red, T-top roof panel to the wrecked 2005 Porsche Carrera GT.
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