State prevents auction of Bradley property

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 - Property of Lewes pediatrician Earl Bradley, set to be sold at public auction later this week, will instead be turned over to state officials.

Attorney General Beau Biden announced Monday, Jan. 24, that his office has reached an agreement with a Rehoboth storage facility, which will sell the items to the state for the sum of $1.

“I want to thank Secure Self Storage for agreeing to turn the property over to the state at a financial loss," Biden said.

Secure Self Storage in Rehoboth Beach had planned a public auction this week to sell property Bradley had been keeping in storage there to satisfy a lien against him for unpaid rental fees. Instead, the company has agreed to sell the property to the state for $1.

The Attorney General’s Office said state officials will dispose of the property at a later date, but spokesman Jason Miller said the Attorney General’s Office would have no further comment on the agreement.

Bradley is scheduled to go on trial Monday, Feb. 21, accused of more than 500 counts of rape and exploitation of more than 100 children. He is being held at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna on $4.7 million cash bond.

Jury selection is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14. Presiding over the case in Sussex County Superior Court will be Judge William Carpenter.