The Pike County Prosecutor’s Office has filed felony charges against Martin Ethridge Jr., 38, of Ullin, IL, in connection with what investigators describe as a multi-state motorcycle theft operation. According to prosecutors, Ethridge is charged with theft and conspiracy to commit theft in Pike County. Authorities allege the scheme involved suspects using fraudulent online payment transactions to obtain motorcycles listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace before transporting and reselling the bikes in Illinois and Missouri. Investigators say Ethridge is accused of helping steal a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Pike County and may be connected to as many as eight to ten similar thefts. Officials say the motorcycle has not been recovered. A Pike Circuit Court judge issued an arrest warrant Thursday with bond set at $30,000. Authorities say Ethridge remains at large, and anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. Ethridge is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
