Local Boy Jailed For Theft Of Golden Violin: "I Won It From The Devil"

ATLANTA - Explosive new details have emerged in the curious case of 15 year-old Jonathan "Johnny" Anderson of Pike County, recently convicted of the theft of a golden violin, valued at $2.3 million, from the Atlanta home of tobacco magnate Beezle Mephistopolous. An investigative report by the Atlanta Observer has revealed that Anderson's extraordinary defense in court was that the violin was not stolen at all, but was won by the boy in a bet with the Devil.

The trial, conducted behind tightly closed doors and amid rumors that the wealthy and well connected Mr. Mephistopolous was heavily leaning on prosecutors to obtain the maximum sentence, has been the buzz of Pike County for months, with speculation rife as to how and why a boy with an otherwise clean record would commit such a serious crime. The story has even been picked up by major regional newspapers and television once it was publicly announced that Anderson would be tried as an adult. He was sentenced last week to serve 12-15 years, which critics decried as overly harsh. It has still not been accurately determined how the young Anderson was able to break into the Mephistopolous manor, make off with the heavily guarded violin and return home in time for dinner.

Anonymous attendees of the exclusive court proceedings tell the Observer how, at one point, Anderson had to be dragged from the court in handcuffs by bailiffs after challenging the judge to a 'fiddling duel' and shouting about the Devil. Says a source, "He just kept screaming, 'I told you once you son of a bitch, I'm the best there's ever been!' And, 'It might be a sin, but I won that golden fiddle from the Devil fair and square! That goddamn son of a bitch must have stole it! Get after him about it, not me!' It was awful."

Court officials would only comment that Anderson was seen by a mental health professional and was deemed fit to stand trial.

When reached for comment, Mr. Mephistopolous was reluctant to speak to reporters, though when repeatedly questioned stated, "Look, justice has been served. My property has been returned to me and that dirty, filthy little fiddle player has been properly punished for thinking he can beat me...um, I mean beat the criminal justice system."

When asked about how the high-profile robbery has effected his business, as it is well known that his tobacco company has been in a steep decline in recent years, he related, "Yes, it's true I'm in a bit of a bind. Way behind in fact and I've been willing to make a deal. Not enough people smoking these days with these damn Surgeon General warnings and all. I may be moving into coal next, but we'll have to see how the market plays out."

Meanwhile, the boy's family maintains that he was he was well-behaved and never had any trouble with the law in the past. Described as highly imaginative and a gifted musician, Anderson was a five-time winner of the annual Pike County Fair Fiddle-Off and a member of 4-H and his local church youth group. Police say he was the only suspect in the robbery.