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Arcadia, FL (34266)
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Several criminals sent to prison
By Susan E. Hoffman
Teen gets 4 years in prison for car theft
Juan Miguel Lopez, 19, was sentenced last month to four years and six months in state prison for stealing a car, along with multiple charges from Charlotte County for grand theft, burglary and grand theft auto.
According to records from the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, Clerk of Court and Department of Corrections, on Feb. 1, 2016, a man reported his Ford SUV stolen.The following day, the stolen SUV was involved in a crash on Environmental Lab Road. Witnesses who lived in the area reported hearing a loud noise, and one saw five juveniles running down the road.
Shortly after, one resident said someone tried to get in her front door but it was locked. Another said someone tried to open their front door but when the resident asked "who is it?" they ran off. Their teenage daughter had reportedly gotten a text from an ex-boyfriend, who was one of five boys (including Lopez) that were believed to have been in the car.
DCSO suspected Lopez; when questioned, Lopez denied knowing anything about the stolen SUV. He refused to turn over his phone but an adult gave it to detectives. According to DCSO, Lopez texted one of the five boys on Feb. 1 saying he would come by with a stolen car. He texted another youth, saying he had gotten a "whip" (slang for stolen car).
One of the five boys involved reportedly said Lopez had been driving the SUV when it crashed.
In addition to the DeSoto County charge, Lopez is also serving time for multiple car break-ins and grand theft. The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office reported that in February and March 2018, Lopez stole a Lexus together with almost $2,500 worth of goods left inside. He is also listed as having been involved in eight car burglaries in which he, along with three other teens, stole a purse, wallet, headphones and money.
Lopez was sentenced April 8 and transferred to the Department of Corrections on April 25 to serve a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
Man gets a year+ in prison on weapons charge
Clemente Mendoza Garcia, 43, was sent to prison for a year and a day for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
According to records from the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office and Clerk of Court, on Jan. 7 a deputy was patrolling on South Brevard Avenue when he saw a man shooting off fireworks in front of a building. He asked Garcia why he was shooting them there; Garcia reportedly responded that he didn't know.
The deputy searched Garcia for weapons and found a knife in his waistband. Garcia reportedly said he had been robbed before and wanted the knife for protection. He also said he was a convicted felon.
The deputy confirmed Garcia had three prior felony convictions. Department of Corrections records indicate Garcia's prison sentences date back to 1994 when he was sentenced in Hardee County for five years for burglary of an unoccupied structure and an occupied dwelling. He was sentenced again in 1999 to five years for burglary of an occupied dwelling or conveyance, and for a year and three months in 2010 for burglary of an unoccupied structure or conveyance.
Garcia was transferred to the Department of Corrections on April 25 and is expected to be released on Jan. 7, 2020.
Man gets prison term for battery, drugs
Tobin Casper Lindsey, 33, was sentenced to a year and a day in state prison on charges of aggravated battery when he knew or should have known the victim was pregnant and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
According to records from the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, Clerk of Court and Department of Corrections, last July Lindsey's live-in girlfriend said she and Lindsey had been in a physical fight. She said he was drunk and grabbed her arm and her head.
Later, she tried to wake him up on time for work but he would not get up. When he did finally get up, she said, he was angry because he was late. He tried to take her phone away from her but she ran to a relative's house. She hid in a truck, and when the deputy arrived, Lindsey was standing by the truck where the victim was.
In December, a deputy found Lindsey sitting, apparently asleep, in front of the Family Dollar store. He appeared to be under the influence of a drug. As he stood up, the deputy saw a bag containing marijuana fall to the ground. Lindsey tried to conceal it by covering it with his foot, but the deputy retrieved it and also found a pipe in his pocket. He was booked for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lindsey pleaded no contest and was sentenced to a year and a day on the battery and drug charges, followed by a year under probation. He was transported to DOC on April 25 and is expected to be released on March 11.
Woman gets prison term on drug charges
Jessica Elizabeth Picard, 28, was sentenced to a year and a day in state prison on multiple drug charges.
According to records from the Arcadia Police Department, DeSoto County Sheriff's Office, Clerk of Court and Department of Corrections, Picard was apprehended Dec. 20, 2018 on suspicion of theft at the Family Dollar Store. She had hidden several items under her clothes, including underwear, pants and laundry detergent.
When she was searched, Picard had a bag of Xanax pills for which she did not have a prescription.
On March 25, an APD officer saw her driving in Arcadia, knowing her license had been suspended. He pulled her over in the parking lot of The Arcadian and saw her making "furtive movements."
After she was handcuffed, the officer searched the car and found two pouches containing a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue, a baggie with meth, several syringes and suboxone, a synthetic opioid.
She claimed not to know anything about the pouches and said she had only driven her mother for medical treatment.
Picard was sentenced to prison for three counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. She was admitted on April 24 (the day before her 29th birthday), and will be released by March 24, 2020.
Man sent to prison for 12 years for gas station break-in
Man charged with falsely reporting crime, smuggling drugs in jail
Man in prison 18 months for Walmart theft
Letters to the editor, 07/18/19
'Go as fast as you can. Go as fast as you can. Go. Go. Go...'
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Movie guide: What's opening this week
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Truck flips at 70/17
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Corizon not doing its job at county jail
DeSoto Co. obituaries, 07/11/19, Goodwin Westberry
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Friday Night Lights with Pee Wees and Juniors
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DeSoto Co. ag briefs, 07/11/19
Rooting out invaders, invasive lantana
DeSoto business briefs, 07/11/19
DeSoto letters, 07/11/19
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APD says man threatened another with gun
Man arrested second time in a month
Man held on drug, weapons charges
Jones gets 2-year sentence on drug, weapon charges
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I scream, we all scream about contaminated ice cream, Luke Wilson, 07/11/19
Arcadia HPC minutes, next up on Aug. 12
Two teens charged with armed robbery over pot
Arcadia woman charged with selling coke in Charlotte
Nuco gets tax break, ground-breaking by October
History's mysteries: Who lived at 618 E. Oak St.?
How to grow your own fruits and vegetables from food scraps
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Arcadia, FL 34266
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