DONEGAL TWP — An online auction dispute led state police to file theft charges against a Michigan man.

The unusual case began in September when the victim, a Donegal Township man, sold his stainless steel boat propeller on eBay. The $330 high bid went to Christos A. Kaiafas, 32, of Royal Oak, Mich., who initially paid for the item on Sept. 20 via PayPal, authorities said.

However, soon after the apparent buyer changed his mind.

In turn, the seller tried to cancel the transaction and refund the money.

But when the money was not immediately refunded, according to court documents, the alleged victim told Kaiafas he considered the propeller sold and shipped it Sept. 22.

When the seller learned the refund had eventually gone through PayPal that same day, it was too late to stop the shipment. The U.S. Postal Service delivered the propeller to Kaiafas on Sept. 25.

“The victim communicated with the defendant in an attempt to have the item returned,” documents said, “but the defendant refused to send the propeller back.”

The seller claimed when the dispute was not resolved even after he offered to pay Kaiafas to have the propeller returned, he contacted police for help.

Police sent an e-mail to the defendant, who advised he mistakenly bought the propeller and told the owner he did not want the item before it was shipped.

Kaiafas also admitted he told the seller that if he wanted the propeller back, “to come to Michigan to retrieve it,” according to a police affidavit.

In deciding to prosecute the case, investigators allege the propeller “was delivered by mistake and the defendant retained it with the intent of depriving the victim of it.”

Kaiafas is charged with theft of property delivered by mistake, a first-degree misdemeanor.