Man charged in kidnapping and home-invasion robbery
Some boys in the home were tied up and one was hit in the head with a baseball bat before a safe containing guns, coins and jewelry was taken.
By CHRIS TISCH
Published May 10, 2003
CLEARWATER - A man wanted in connection with a violent home-invasion robbery last summer has been arrested.
Nicholas Thompson, 26, was arrested Wednesday and charged with home-invasion robbery and kidnapping. Prosecutors had issued a capias - similar to a warrant - for his arrest on May 1.
He is one of several men accused of robbing a group of young boys in a home on South Betty Lane just after midnight on July 7. Police said the robbers barged into the house, tied up the boys, hit one in the head with a baseball bat and hauled away a safe containing a dozen guns, a $30,000 gold coin collection, $3,800 in cash and some jewelry.
The victims were ages 12, 14, 15 and 17. The 17-year-old lived at the home and was the one hit in the head. His father owns the safe and was out of town that day.
The robbers did not tie up one teen at the home during the robbery, 18-year-old Barry Burris.
Clearwater police later found Burris, and he admitted to investigators that he was in on the robbery. He also identified other people involved. Burris told police that Thompson had approached him with the idea to rob the home.
Burris, now 19, has since pleaded guilty to home-invasion robbery and kidnapping. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 19.
Also arrested was Jason Sucietto, 27, who pleaded guilty to the charges in February. He faces sentencing Monday. He has a long criminal history in Pinellas County that includes charges of burglary and fraud.
Another man arrested in connection with the crime had charges against him dropped because none of the victims identified him as among the robbers. At least one other person is believed to have been involved in the crime, but has not been arrested.
Pinellas sheriff's officials received tips that Thompson had been in Denver, but had recently returned to Pinellas County. They found him, watched him and arrested him, said sheriff's spokeswoman Marianne Pasha.
Thompson, who also has a long criminal history, was held in the Pinellas County Jail on Friday in lieu of $50,000 bail.
