Man convicted in Travolta car theft ordered to pay

[January 26, 2012]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A man who stole John Travolta's vintage 1970 Mercedes-Benz convertible has been sentenced to 16 months in jail and ordered to pay the actor $50,000 in restitution, according to court records obtained Wednesday.

Travolta had parked the convertible on a residential street in Santa Monica for about 10 minutes in September when it was stolen.

The Oscar-nominated actor had the keys with him while he went to a nearby Jaguar dealership.

Santa Monica police Sgt. Richard Lewis said Travolta's car had been dismantled by the time it was recovered. Among the pieces found were seats, the speedometer, hubcaps and other parts.

D L Rayford Jr., 52, pleaded no contest on Jan. 5 to grand theft auto after he and Michael T. Green were arrested last month.

Green has pleaded not guilty to two counts of grand theft auto. Robert Conley, his public defender, said he could not comment.

Lewis said authorities waited until Wednesday to announce the arrests because their investigation into Rayford and Green had been ongoing. Police were able to clear eight stolen car cases after their arrests, Lewis said.

An email message seeking comment from Travolta's publicist Samantha Mast was not immediately returned.

Rayford has a previous conviction for robbery. Green, 58, has prior convictions for robbery and grand theft auto. He is due in court on Feb. 8.

[Associated Press; By ANTHONY McCARTNEY]

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