news-record.com

GREENSBORO — An Oak Ridge man who disappeared for more than a week in early June now faces charges in the theft of more than $9,000 in lottery tickets from the grocery he managed.

Jason “Jake” Paul Aton, 32, of 2874 Oak Ridge Road, was charged July 7 with felony obtaining property by false pretense and embezzlement, according to police and court records.

Aton is accused in the theft in late May of more than $9,000 in lottery tickets from the Food Lion on Drawbridge Parkway, where he was a manager.

On June 2, Aton failed to show up for work.

Friends spent more than a week searching for him, fearing the worst.

A missing person’s report was filed and authorities spent more than a week searching for Aton by ground and air, but didn’t find him.

He was found safe June 8 in Wrightsville Beach when a patrol officer spotted him on a moped scooter and matched him to a missing person report.

Authorities speculated that  Aton fled to avoid questioning about the missing lottery tickets.

Detective M.P. Kraft of the Greensboro Police Department said Aton turned himself into authorities last week — while accompanied by his lawyer — after warrants were issued for his arrest.

Kraft said Aton declined to talk to detectives.

“Food Lion did an internal investigation (of the theft) and it all pointed back to him,” Kraft said Monday night.

Aton was released from jail on a written promise to appear in court.

He could not be reached by phone for comment late Monday.

He is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 10.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com