CLEARWATER -- Charges have been dropped against one of three men arrested last month in connection with a July 7 home invasion robbery in which more than $30,000 in valuables were stolen.

Prosecutors dropped charges of home invasion robbery and kidnapping against Brian D. Valenzuela, 22. He had been accused of participating in a robbery on S Betty Lane in which several men tied up the occupants of a home and took a safe stuffed with valuables, including guns, jewelry and a $30,000 coin collection.

Prosecutors said none of the victims could positively identify Valenzuela as a participant, which forced them to rely on the testimony of other co-defendants, said Chief Assistant State Attorney Bruce Bartlett.

Prosecutors decided they didn't want to do that, so they dropped the charges. But Bartlett said prosecutors may consider re-filing charges against Valenzuela sometime in the future.

Two other men, Barry Burris, 18, and Jason Sucietto, 26, also have been charged in connection with the robbery. Their prosecutors are moving forward.

Clearwater police detectives continue to search for more people involved in the robbery. Court records identify Nicholas Thompson, 25, and Mark Anthony, 33, as suspects.

Anyone with information about the robbery or location of the at-large suspects can call Detective James Kleinsorge at 562-4316.

Man hired to threaten pleads guilty to extortion

PALM HARBOR -- A man who was hired to act like a mobster and threaten a local businessman has pleaded guilty to an extortion charge.

Anthony Stephen Tracy, 42, of Coral Gables, was sentenced to three years probation after he pleaded guilty on Monday. He also was ordered to pay $541 in costs and fines.

Tracy was accused of confronting businessman James McGuire at his business on Alt. U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor on Nov. 8. Tracy said he was there on behalf of George Cappelli, who was owed $30,000 by another man, who in turn was owed $30,000 by McGuire.

Tracy, about 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, asked to speak to McGuire in a private room, then told him Cappelli was a bad man who wanted to be paid $5,000 per week until the debt among the three men was resolved, an arrest affidavit states.

Tracy told McGuire that if the payments weren't made, "He would not be taking up air anymore," the affidavit states.

Tracy then demanded McGuire's $7,500 watch. McGuire feared for his life and gave it up. Tracy said he would keep the watch until the debt was paid, the affidavit states.

Tracy then took McGuire outside, where Cappelli was waiting. Cappelli screamed at McGuire that he was disrespecting him: "I'll blow you up with a grenade. I'll blow up your house," an arrest report states. "I know you got money. If you don't pay me, it won't matter. You'll be dead."

Cappelli was arrested about a week after the threat was made. He later pleaded guilty to an extortion charge and was sentenced to two years of probation.

A day or two later, the watch was sent back in the mail. Detectives identified Tracy as the hired muscle. He turned himself in at the Pinellas County Jail in May.

Bus driver charged with abuse gets probation

CLEARWATER -- A school bus driver arrested in February on charges he abused one of the students on his bus has been sentenced to probation.

Emmett Alan Wade, 61, was arrested on charges of child abuse and tampering with a witness. Clearwater police said a girl was leaving Wade's bus when he grabbed her rear end. Two days later, Wade drove to the girl's school bus stop and tried to intimidate her into not telling anyone, police said.

Prosecutors filed a charge of child abuse against Wade. He pleaded guilty on July 24 to a lesser charge, stalking, and was sentenced to one year of probation. He also was ordered to pay $483 in costs and fines, and to have no contact with the victim.

Back to North Pinellas news

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

Special Links

Mary Jo Melone

Howard Troxler

From the Times
North Pinellas desks