Kim Avis's fake death drama in the US spurred son to steal vodka
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The teenage son of a man who faked his own death to escape prosecution for sex offences stole a bottle of vodka at the height of the drama.
Aaron Avis is the 18 year old child of Kim Avis, a well known Inverness charity fund-raiser and market trader who went on the run to the USA in 2019.
He absconded before his trial on rape and ex assault offences was due to start.
The 57 year old staged his death by apparent drowning in Monastery Bay near Carmel in California but US Marshalls didn't believe he had died.
He was eventually arrested in Colorado in 2021, brought back to the UK and jailed for a total of 15 years.
Son Aaron, who previously lived in Mackay Road, Inverness but has now moved into college accommodation in Perth, did not appear at Inverness Sheriff Court.
However defence solicitor Marc Dickson pleaded guilty on his behalf to stealing a £20 bottle of vodka from Tesco Dores on June 21, 2020.
There was no recovery, fiscal depute Victoria Silver told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald.
Mr Dickson said the Sheriff would probably be familiar with the name and that Kim Avis was part of a wealthy family.
He said of Aaron: "He behaved stupidly when temptation came his way.
"He was going through a difficult family time and was aged only 16 when this took place. He was not keeping the best of company. He has managed to stay out of trouble since."
Sheriff Macdonald deferred sentence on Avis for his good behaviour until October 27.
