3 men have been indicted for trying to sell stolen handwritten notes and lyrics by Don Henley, founding member of the Eagles. It’s alleged that about 100 pages of notes and lyrics for “Hotel California,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” and “New Kid in Town” were taken. All together the documents have an estimated worth of about $1 million.
The men charged are Glenn Horowitz, Craig Inciardi, and Edward Kosinski. All 3 are charged with one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree. Inciardi and Kosinski are also charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree. Horowitz is charged with attempted criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree, and two counts of hindering prosecution in the second degree.
Horowitz, Inciardi, and Kosinski surrendered to authorities and were released to their attorneys. Afterward, all of their attorneys released a joint statement to CNN saying “The DA’s office alleges criminality where none exists and unfairly tarnishes the reputations of well-respected professionals. We will fight these unjustified charges vigorously,” Jonathan Bach, Stacey Richman, and Antonia Apps said.
The indictment says that Horowitz got the items around 2005 from a writer, who is not identified in by name in the document. This writer supposedly came into possession of the documents while working on a never-published book about the Eagles, in the late 1970s. The writer has given Horowitz multiple stories over the years as to how he came into possession of these documents.
In emails included in the indictment, the writer claims at one point that Henley’s assistant sent them directly from the musician’s home. At another point, he claims to have found them discarded in a dressing room backstage at an Eagles concert. And then at another point claimed that someone who worked for the band gave them to him. “It was about 35 years ago and my memory is foggy!” the writer pointed out in a 2012 email.
How this all came to light is allegedly between 2012 and 2019, Inciardi and Kosinski had taken possession of the “developmental lyrics.” “These defendants attempted to keep and sell these unique and valuable manuscripts, despite knowing they had no right to do so. They made up stories about the origin of the documents and their right to possess them so they could turn a profit,” said Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg.
“When Don Henley learned that Inciardi and Kosinski were trying to sell portions of the manuscripts, he filed police reports, told the defendants that the materials were stolen, and demanded the return of his property,” according to a news release by the prosecution.
So remember; if you come into possession of super cool, stolen property, don’t try to sell it. (Disclaimer; the aforementioned statement is, in fact, a joke.)
