The situation has become clearer. I uncovered a copyrighted article this week from a major metropolitan newspaper's recent article about our guy. Here's my précis:

It seems he was indeed busted! He had stolen the panties in question, and had been previously convicted of quote -underwear theft- unquote (as if there was a specific statute for that offense). He had been sentenced to 180 days in jail...

We're deliberately being circumspect here. We feel a great deal of compassion for our brother and his need, and we don't want him to be easily identified.

His former employer was the one who called in the police when he found the guy's stash while cleaning out his work space. The boss said that there were, among other things, "granny panties". (Seems he's truly one of us!)

Some women had supposedly seen him removing their underwear from clotheslines with a stick.

Another line from the story said that at one time he had been stopped with about fifty pairs of underwear in his car. Boy, that sure must have aroused suspicion! "Up against the wall, M.F., and don't go for those panties" What do you suppose their street value was? Sheeesh!