Joseph Beard, a 52-year-old man linked to a spate of auto thefts, has been convicted on various charges after a major crackdown by the Auto Theft Task Force in Multnomah County. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office announced that Beard, associated with Maters Auto Recycling, was found guilty on April 11 of unauthorized use of a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, and theft I. The charges are the result of what law enforcement has named “Operation MistleTow,” a concerted effort to curb the high rates of car theft in the area.