SECOND HEARING AID ARREST IN VENICE

A SECOND MAN FROM A VENICE HEARING AID COMPANY WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY ROBBED THEM.  PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY 51 YEAR OLD PETER CLEPPE TOLD VENICE POLICE THAT HE HAD TAKEN OVER $5000 OF HEARING AID EQUIPMENT FROM THE FRIENDSHIP HEARING AID CENTER IN VENICE BACK IN AUGUST AS COLLATERAL FOR MONEY HE WAS OWED FOR WORK DONE THERE.  HE REPORTEDLY RETURNED THE ITEMS TO POLICE, BUT THE OWNER FILED CHARGES AGAINST HIM AFTER HE FIRED HIM.  CLEPPE WAS CHARGED WITH GRAND THEFT AND RELEASED FRIDAY AFTER POSTING A $2000 BOND.  CLEPPE IS REPORTEDLY A KEY WITNESS IN A SEPARATE CASE AGAINST 49 YEAR OLD STEVEN BERHALTER, WHO FACES FOUR FELONY CHARGES FOR SELLING HEARING AIDS WITHOUT A LICENSE AND PRACTICING A MEDICAL PROFESSION WITHOUT A LICENSE.