Newport artist wanted in theft case caught in Dallas

A Newport Beach artist arrested in Dallas and wanted by Newport Beach police on two counts of felony grand theft and one count of writing a check with insufficient funds will be extradited by Feb. 14, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Newport Beach police issued a $50,000 warrant for artist Michael Schofield, 60, Jan. 30 after they were unable to track him down for two weeks.

Schofield is accused of using a Picasso sketch that did not belong to him as collateral for a $40,000 loan with interest he did not repay, authorities said. He then allegedly stole the sketch back, officials said. Schofield also collected $1,850 from an Irvine man for getting the man’s artwork repaired in Los Angeles, prosecutors said.

Schofield told the art owner he had to pay for the repairs in advance, police said. There was no advanced payment, police said.

Schofield was arrested thanks to an anonymous tip, and he waived his right to an extradition hearing Wednesday, prosecutors said. He faces up to four years and four months in prison if convicted of all charges.

— Joseph Serna