Store owners sued

Landlords for the Keepsake Jewelry Boutique in Penn Valley filed a civil complaint against the defunct business Thursday in Nevada County Superior Court.

Customers concerned about the fate of their jewelry that was in the store also have begun to get their valuables returned.

The jewelry store at 10136 Commercial Ave. has been closed since Aug. 16, when owner Daniel Copeland and his wife, Adelaide, said they were leaving for a month-long trip to Portugal.

In the four months since, the Copelands reportedly have not been heard from by their customers, the man they sold the business to, or authorities trying to get answers.

Thursday, building owner Gateway Center Investors filed a civil case against Copeland seeking to regain possession of the store, past due rent of at least $2,211, and attorneys fees. The action followed a Nov. 11 three-day eviction notice.

A civil judgment issued against Keepsake Jewelry Boutique Oct. 27 in Sacramento County Superior Court awarded more than $1 million in damages to Chris Gibson, a Sacramento man who signed a contract to purchase Copeland's business, home and personal possessions.

Despite the signed contract, Copeland never gave Gateway Center Investors permission to reassign the lease - a stipulation of his tenet agreement. Gibson said he was locked out of the store just a few hours after reopening it.

In that short time, Gibson was able to remove service orders from the Penn Valley store, he said.

It was those orders, which Gibson held at his Madison Avenue Diamonds store in Fair Oaks, that were returned to customers in the past two weeks.

People such as Theresa Manzinali, who was without a wedding ring for months, have been given back most of their possessions.

Manzinali said she gave Adelaide Copeland her wedding ring in August to get a new diamond set in it. While the ring arrived two weeks ago via FedEx, Manzinali said, the 3/4- karat marquise cut diamond she nearly paid off in the past year was missing.

Manzinali said she does not expect to see the exact diamond she bought. But she is working with Gibson, a store employee and a lawyer to get a replacement.

"I'm hoping to get a diamond worth that amount of money I've already paid," she said.

Manzinali did not file a criminal complaint for the missing stone. Although the Nevada County Sheriff's Office has received at least 20 calls from concerned customers, none had filed any complaints as of Thursday.

"There is not a criminal investigation as of yet," Detective Guy Selleck said.

Instead, Selleck continues to take phone calls, which he forwards to Gibson.

The store no longer has sparsely stocked jewelry cases layered with dust. Instead, it is filled with packed boxes, awaiting removal if and when a court decision is rendered.

Now that Gibson has returned the items in his possession, he wants to put his energy back into the Fair Oaks store.

Although Manzinali got her wedding ring back, she said she has lost a sense of trust.

"I find that really sad," she said. "I really considered (Adelaide Copeland) a friend."