| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: SEROCKI, EDWARD 0322 (AR15-13839) DID UNLAWFULLY INITIATE, PLAN, FINANCE, DIRECT, MANAGE OR SUPERVISE THE THEFT OF PROPERTY, TO WIT: ONE 6â X 12â BIG TEX UTILITY TRAILER, THE PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM AND THEREAFTER TRAFFICKED IN SUCH PROPERTY KNOWING IT WAS STOLEN, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATE STATUE 812.019(2). DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY OBTAIN, USE, OR ENDEAVOR TO OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM, TO WIT: ONE 6â X 12â BIG TEX UTILITY TRAILER OF THE VALUE OF $300.00 OR MORE BUT LESS THAN $5,000.00 ($1,287.27), WITH THE INTENT OF EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEPRIVING THE VICTIM OF THE RIGHT OF THE PROPERTY OR 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 STATE STATUE 812.014 (2)(C)(1). ON 072614, THE VICTIM, MR PAUL EVERLY, REPORTED THAT HIS 2013 BIG TEX 6â X 12â UTILITY TRAILER WAS MISSING FROM HIS RESIDENCE. HE WAS OUT OF STATE AT THE TIME, BUT HAD BEEN INFORMED BY HIS LANDSCAPER THAT IT WAS GONE. THERE WERE NO INVESTIGATIVE LEADS AT THAT TIME. ON 012615, INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE COMPANY THAT SOLD THE TRAILER, BENNETT TRUCK SUPPLY IN OAKLAND MARYLAND, HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY A KNOWN WITNESS LOCATED IN SPRINGHILL, WHO INFORMED MR BENNETT THAT HE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE TRAILER AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE A VIN (VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER) TO REGISTER IT. MR BENNETT FURTHER STATED THAT THE VICTIMâS TRAILER WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN TO FLORIDA. BECAUSE OAKLAND, MARYLAND, IS A SMALL TOWN WITH A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1900, MR BENNETT IS FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF HIS CUSTOMERS. LATER THIS DETECTIVE MADE CONTACT WITH THE WITNESS AT HIS RESIDENCE IN SPRINGHILL, WHERE HE SHOWED ME THE TRAILER WITH THE BENNETT TRUCKING STICKER. HE FURTHER ADVISED THAT HIS FATHER HAD PURCHASED THE TRAILER FOR HIM FROM A CO-WORKER AT THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WHERE HE WAS EMPLOYED. ON 012715, THIS DETECTIVE THEN MADE CONTACT WITH THE ORIGINAL WITNESSâ FATHERâS CO-WORKER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD PURCHASED THE TRAILER ON 071814, FOR $500.00, FROM HIS FOREMAN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HIS FOREMAN WAS MR STEVEN OHRT (THE DEFENDANT). THIS WITNESS WAS ABLE TO PRODUCE A HANDWRITTEN RECEIPT FROM THE DEFENDANT DATED 071814. ON 020915, THIS DETECTIVE MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEFENDANT AND REQUESTED THAT HE MEET ME AT THE CRYSTAL RIVER SUBSTATION FOR AN INTERVIEW. ON 021015, THE DEFENDANT WAS PRESENT AT THE CRYSTAL RIVER SUBSTATION, WHERE HE WAS READ MIRANDA WARNING FROM A PREPRINTED CARD AND HE STATED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THEM AND WOULD BE WILLING TO SPEAK WITH ME. I TOLD THE DEFENDANT THAT I WAS INVESTIGATING A THEFT OF A UTILITY TRAILER FROM THE DEFENDANTâS NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR. THE DEFENDANT DID ADMIT THAT ON OR ABOUT 071814, HE DID REMOVE THE TRAILER BY HOOKING IT UP TO HIS TRUCK AND DID SELL IT TO THE WITNESS WHO HAD PRODUCED A RECEIPT. I SHOWED THE DEFENDANT A COPY OF THE RECEIPT AND HE ADMITTED THAT HE HAD IN FACT WRITTEN IT. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNSURE IF HE RECEIVED $300.00 OR $500.00 FOR THE TRAILER. THE DEFENDANT COULD ONLY EXPLAIN THAT THE REASON HE TOOK IT WAS FOOLISHNESS. THE DEFENDANT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF GRAND THEFT AND ONE COUNT OF DEALING IN STOLEN PROPERTY. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY. DUE TO THE DEFENDANTâS COOPERATION IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND THE FACT THAT HE HAS A INTRAVENOUS PORT IN HIS ARM AND NEEDS TWO HOURS OF ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT EVERY OTHER DAY DUE TO A SERIOUS INFECTION, HE WAS RELEASED ON HIS RECOGNIZANCE. THE DEFENDANTâS STATEMENT WAS DIGITALLY RECORDED. |
