I wouldnt mess up with any court, pick up few guys, go to his place, kick him in the head, put his lame ass in the trunk, go to some forest, get him out of the car, take few guys to hold him, get a hammer or some golf club like 3rd wood, and broke every single bone on his fucked body till he tells you the truth about your supra.
Sorry, but you Americans are to gentle when in comes to do justice. I had similar situation about 2 years ago, and I did the very same thing to one thieve, we kicked the shit out of him till he told the truth, where he put my buddies stuff and left him naked in the forest...
That should teach him a lesson, thieves dont deserve even a right to be put to jail...