Update: Charges Dismissed Against Truck Driver Accused of Stealing Freightliner, Frozen Chickens

Update, Aug. 13, 2012: The three theft by taking charges against John S. Ravan were dismissed, according to a Dec. 12, 2011, document signed by assistant district attorney Kris Bolden of the Western Judicial Circuit. In a telephone conversation Aug. 13, 2012, Ravan told Oconee Patch he had had a medical condition that caused him to become disoriented on the day of the reported incident, which, in part, led to the dismissal of the charges.

Original report on May 17, 2011:

After a shipment never arrived to its Montgomery, Alabama destination on Friday morning, May 13, notified the that something was wrong.

Police Chief Lee O'Dillon said the business had attempted to contact the driver by cell phone, but was unsuccessful. The driver had also deactivated the GPS tracking device on the truck, he said.

A lookout was posted for the 2001 Freightliner, which was carrying $52,000 worth of frozen chickens, O'Dillon said.

Athens-Clarke County Police located the trailer and cargo Friday evening at a North Avenue address, and the refrigeration unit was still in tact, he said.

"We found it in time," he said.  "We got lucky on that one."

Authorities believe it was left to be sold and police located it before any such transaction could take place, O'Dillon reported. The truck and driver were still missing, he said.

Early Monday morning, Morgan County Sheriff’s deputies located the truck in Rutledge, O'Dillon said, adding that a nationwide lookout was issued for the driver, John S. Ravan, 48, of Channelview, Texas.

"During the investigation, information developed that [Ravan] had family in Warner Robins, and we worked hand in hand with [local authorities] to get him," he said.

By 6:30 p.m. Monday, the Houston County Sheriff's Office had Ravan in custody, O'Dillon said.

"We were able to coordinate pretty good between the different agencies," he said.

Ravan is currently being held at the Houston County Jail, charged with probation violation of an original charge of theft by conversion, an employee of the records department at the jail confirmed.

Watkinsville Police have charged Ravan with three counts of felony theft by taking, O'Dillon said. There are also outstanding warrants in his name in other areas around the state in connection with similar crimes, he said.