| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: TAYLOR, SHELLEY 0401 (AR11122558) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY OBTAIN, USE OR ENDEAVOR TO OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM, TO-WIT: AN AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, OF THE VALUE OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($300.00) OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000.00), TO WIT: $3,000.00 ACTUAL VALUE, WITH THE INTENT TO EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE THE VICTIM OF A RIGHT TO THE PROPERTY OR A BENEFIT THEREOF, OR DID APPROPRIATE THE SAID PROPERTY TO HIS OWN USE OR THE USE OF ANY PERSON NOT ENTITLED THERETO, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTES 812.014(2)C(1). ON 071811 DEPUTY BEETOW WAS CONDUCTING A NEIGHBORHOOD CANVASS REGARDING AN UNRELATED CASE. DEPUTY BEETOW NOTICED THAT THE RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 1740 NORTH TROY LOOP HAD A MISSING AIR CONDITIONING (AC) UNIT. DEPUTY BEETOW MADE CONTACT WITH WITNESS, MS DONNA BRANDLEY, WHO ADVISED THAT SHE RECALLED SEEING A LARGE AC UNIT SITTING NEXT TO HER RESIDENCE. THE WITNESS SHARES THE PROPERTY WITH THE DEFENDANT, MR STANLEY COUNTERMINE, WHO IS HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND, WHO LIVES IN A SHED ON THE PROPERTY. THE WITNESS ADVISED THAT THE DEFENDANT OFTEN HAS AC UNITS AND REFRIGERATORS ON THE PROPERTY THAT HE LATER SCRAPS THE METAL FROM. THE WITNESS FURTHER STATED THAT THE NEIGHBOR; WITNESS CAROL DEMERITT, ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR HAD INFORMED HER THAT SHE HAD SEEN THE DEFENDANT WITH HIS VEHICLE BACKED UP TO THE VICTIM'S RESIDENCE, NEXT TO THE AC UNIT. A FEW MOMENTS LATER WITNESS DEMERITT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND WHEN SHE WENT OUTSIDE, THE DEFENDANT AND THE AC UNIT WAS GONE. ON 071911, THIS DETECTIVE RESPONDED TO THE INCIDENT LOCATION AND OBSERVED THE HOME TO BE VACANT. THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND HOSE HAD BEEN CUT WHERE THE AC UNIT HAD BEEN LOCATED. ON 080211, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM WITNESS DEMERITT, WHO LATER PROVIDED A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT WHILE TALKING ON THE PHONE SHE WALKED OUTSIDE OF HER RESIDENCE AND OBSERVED THE DEFENDANT AT THE VICTIM'S RESIDENCE. THE DEFENDANT'S TRUCK WAS BACKED UP TO THE AC UNIT. A FEW MINUTES LATER SHE WALKED BACK OUTSIDE AND THE DEFENDANT AND THE AC UNIT WERE MISSING. WITNESS DEMERITT ALSO PROVIDED ME WITH THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE HOMEOWNER/VICTIM. WITNESS DEMERITT INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT THE HOMEOWNER HAD HIRED THE DEFENDANT, AS SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF A SHORT SALE. I THEN CONTACTED THE VICTIM, MS RENE BAUGHER, WHO IS CURRENTLY RESIDING IN ARIZONA. THE VICTIM STATED SHE STILL OWNS THE PROPERTY AND THAT THE AC UNIT WAS AT THE HOUSE WHEN SHE LEFT THE PROPERTY AND DID NOT GIVE THE DEFENDANT OR ANYONE ELSE PERMISSION TO REMOVE THE AC UNIT. ON 090211, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE DEFENDANT AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEFENDANT INVOKED HIS RIGHTS. HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, HANDCUFFED (DOUBLE LOCKED) AND PLACED IN THE REAR SEAT OF MY PATROL VEHICLE AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY. THE DEFENDANT WAS CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF GRAND THEFT, WITH BOND SET AT $2,000.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. "If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator at the Office of the Trial Court Administrator, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 North Apopka Avenue, Inverness, Florida 34450, Telephone (352) 341-6700, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.” *NOT-EXEMPT* |
