A Limerick man was charged with felony theft Sunday after police allege he stole expensive farm equipment from his father, who is incapacitated, and sold the equipment to another farmer.

York County Sheriff William L. King Jr. said Justin Nichols, 31, was arrested Sunday morning. The equipment, a heavy-duty logging skidder and all-terrain tractor, are valued at more than $10,000,

Justin Nichols is accused of selling farm equipment belonging to his father.

Nichols sold this logging skidder that belonged to his father. York County Sheriff's Department photo

Recently, Deputy Jason Solomon was patrolling in Limerick and noticed some pieces of heavy farm equipment missing from a farm whose owner has not been well, according to King.

When Solomon contacted the farmer’s daughter, she told him she suspected Nichols – her brother – removed the equipment without their father’s permission.

Nichols told Solomon on Sunday that he sold his father’s equipment to another farmer in Newfield and did not have permission to sell the items, King said. The equipment has since been recovered and returned to its owner.

In addition to felony theft, Nichols was charged with violating conditions of release. He is being held without bail at the York County Jail pending his video arraignment on Monday.

This is not Nichols’ first brush with the law. In January 2015, he was arrested for allegedly taking payment for firewood he never delivered.

Police said Nichols advertised cut and split firewood on Craigslist and was paid by customers who never received the wood. They said at least 12 people were victimized by Nichols’ firewood scam.

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