Local News in Brief : Honored Auto Dealer and Wife Arrested

A Compton car dealer who was recently honored as “young entrepreneur of the year” by the Small Business Administration and his wife were arrested Wednesday and accused of bilking another car dealer out of $27,247, state officials said.

Brett and Elaine Mitchell, both 30, owners of Brett Mitchell Chevrolet, are each accused of two counts of issuing bad checks, Deputy Dist. Atty. Steven A. Sowders said. Brett Mitchell is also charged with grand theft.

The Mitchells could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Department of Motor Vehicles investigators said the couple obtained and sold a 1988 Volvo from Beverly Hills Auto Imports in Hollywood on Oct. 25 after issuing bad checks to cover the purchase.