Orange County Man Held in Ohio on Bilking Counts

An Orange County man suspected of bilking several women of thousands of dollars by telling them he was the son of either television magnate Ted Turner or actor Dick Van Patten was behind bars Sunday, authorities said.

James B. Turner, 27, who gave police a Huntington Beach address, was arrested Wednesday in the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington.

He was held for extradition to Florida where authorities say he violated probation after pleading guilty to grand theft in August, 1986.

Upper Arlington authorities said Turner was arrested after he submitted an application for a $4,000 bank loan using the name of a woman he been living with for a few days.

Turner allegedly told the woman he would repay her when he found work and that he was waiting for a $150,000 insurance settlement.

However, authorities in Florida and Tennessee said the man usually says he is the son of Ted Turner or Dick Van Patten, asks for a place to stay and says that his wealthy parents will repay them.

In August, 1986, Turner pleaded guilty to grand theft in Fort Lauderdale and was put on probation. He had been accused of bilking two women of $1,300 and two men of $60 with promises to get them work in television commercials. He was using the Van Patten name, Florida authorities said.

A few days later, when Florida officials learned Turner was wanted on a felony theft charge in Orange County, they could not find him.

In February, 1987, Turner was sentenced to three years in prison for grand larceny in the theft of $700 from a Nashville, Tenn., woman. He served eight months of that sentence.

Joe Shirley, chief of security for Turner Broadcasting, said he has been asked by police or victims in Colorado, Connecticut, Tennessee, Florida and now Ohio whether James B. Turner is related to Ted Turner.

“Our role is to assure people that James Turner has no connection with Mr. Turner in any way, shape or fashion,” Shirley said.