REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.- Possessions of accused pedophile pediatrician Earl Bradley are scheduled to hit the auction block but potential bidders will have to wait to get a peek at the items.
Bradley hasn't paid the bill for his rental storage unit at Secure Self Storage in Rehoboth Beach in almost a year, manager Barbara Karcher said. As part of standard procedure with any customer, the company said it can auction off the items to cover his unpaid bill.
Bradley, 57, who is behind bars awaiting his February trial on child sex charges, was known to have plenty of toys and decorations at his old office in Lewes.
A public notice says the storage unit includes items like Buzz Lightyear arcade rides, arcade games, children's toys, electronics, household items, business equipment, kitchen equipment, artwork, building supplies, shelving and boxes. Items will not be individually auctioned; instead, the highest bidder will take all the pieces as one package deal, Karcher said.
Karcher said the company will not show the unit to the public until the day of the auction. The items are technically Bradley's property until they're declared sold. Karcher said the company does not allow people into the unit to rummage around. Instead, staff will open the door to the 12 by 30 foot unit and bidders can look from the outside.
Delaware State Police previously searched the items with a warrant, the company said.
In January, the Delaware Attorney General's Office moved to freeze Bradley's assets and ultimately sieze them for his alleged victims. It's unclear if or how that action could impact the auction.
The company did not say how much Bradley owed but Karcher said she doubts the auction will bring in enough money to cover the unpaid bill.
The manager said a unit of that size typically rents for between $300 and $400 a month and Bradley hadn't paid his bill in almost a year. If the auction takes in more money than the company is owed, Karcher said the company would likely seek guidance from the Delaware Department of Justice.
Given the accusations against Bradley, some question who would want the stuff.
"If it's to pay his bill, that would be helping him," said Joyce Sheminant of Rehoboth Beach. "I wouldn't do anything to help him."
Yet, Karcher said the company has taken a fair number of phone calls from people curious about the auction.
The auction is scheduled to take place at Secure Self Storage, 37053 Rehoboth Ave. Extended, Rehoboth Beach, Jan. 25, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. Bidders should arrive by 10 a.m. with legal photo identification. The unit must be completely cleaned out within 24 hours of sale, according to the public notice. Three other units are also scheduled for auction that day.
The former Lewes office of accused pedophile pediatrician Earl Bradley. (Photo: WBOC)
