Witnesses said former car dealer violated probation [The Lima News, Ohio]

Dec. 15--LIMA -- Witnesses testified Wednesday that Robert Shin violated numerous terms of his probation after his early release from prison last year.

Prosecutors are trying to send Shin back to prison for violating his probation. Wednesday's hearing turned into a two-hour event that did not end and with testimony scheduled to resume Monday. Witnesses said Shin was caught driving without a license four times, was using the Internet, had contact with his co-defendant and was involved in the sales of cars, all violations of his probation.

Shin originally was sentenced to prison for nearly five years for ripping people off of more than $100,000. He had served just more than a year when he was given a second chance after Judge Richard Warren released him early from the sentence on terms he stay out of trouble. Warren wanted to try to get Shin to pay back his victims.

The only part of the prosecution's case that remained murky was a detective's testimony on the analysis of Shin's computer. Detective Scott Leland of the Lima Police Department partially analyzed the computer but struggled to remember exactly what he found.

Shin's probation officer, Jim Wingate, said part of the computer analysis showed Shin was sending correspondence with people to broker deals on cars, which violated his probation. As part of conditions for his early release from prison, Warren ordered Shin to not sell or be involved in the sales of cars.

Wingate said Shin averaged monthly deposits of $3,000 between December 2010 and October despite Shin telling Wingate he was not working. He also said Shin told him his mother was sending him $800 a month to live on.

Wingate testified the Allen Metropolitan Housing Authority was paying for Shin's room at the YMCA and had sought $1,200 in reimbursement after learning Shin had income. The hearing is scheduled to continue Monday with Wingate still on the witness stand.

Shin lost his driver license for seven years in 2008 after an accident and he did not have auto insurance. He was responsible for $11,212 in damages from the accident, state Investigator Melody Price said.

Shin obtained a car through his mother that he transferred to a business name, Price said. Several Lima Police Department officers saw Shin driving the vehicle and issued him citations, according to testimony.

Detective Don Marik of the Lima Police Department also testified he watched video showing Shin arriving and leaving in a car outside the YMCA annex building where Shin was living.

Shin's attorney, Dave Bowers, asked Warren to reinstate Shin's bail but the judge denied it.

The 51-year-old Shin was charged four times in five days in November, each time on the charge of driving under suspension. Those cases are pending at Lima Municipal Court with a pretrial scheduled for Monday.

Shin was sent to prison in 2009 on three counts of grand theft and two counts of passing bad checks. Warren granted him early release a year ago after he told the judge he learned his lesson.

Last December, Warren warned Shin his actions must speak louder than words or he could be sent back. Shin, who was raised in a life of privilege, spent 15 months in prison before his early release.

Shin told the judge a year ago of his prison experience;

"I'm grateful for this experience. It's been an extraordinary time. We think of the bad things, but so much good comes out of this," he said.

Shin was an online auto dealer who prosecutors said stole money from people by selling cars on eBay but not always following through on his sales. His company was Land and Sea Inc.

The Lima man also told the judge last year that prison had given him a chance to reflect on the good fortunes he's had in life.

"I can barely remember a time with three blue shirts and three blue pants when I've been happier," he said.

Assistant Prosecutor Tony Miller opposed the release at the time.

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