A retiree wanted someone to live in her house while she visited family out of state. Now she says he trashed the place and stole her jewelry.
By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published October 22, 2004
CRYSTAL RIVER - When Juanita Judy saw Hurricane Frances approaching in weather reports in early September, she decided to get some help.
Judy, 79, a retired nurse who lives alone, wanted someone who could prepare her home for the storm, then ride it out to protect the house from weather and would-be burglars while she visited family in Ohio.
She called Louisiana Jim.
At the time, Judy didn't know his nickname. She didn't know about his criminal record. She didn't know he was wanted by law enforcement in New Mexico.
She didn't know that James Parker Sharp would do more damage to her home near Kings Bay than any of the hurricanes.
Sharp, 37, had helped one of her close friends with carpentry work. He was clean-shaven. He had good manners. He was looking for a place to stay for a little while. She invited him into her home. She didn't think anything of it.
"You know how kids float from place to place these days," she said.
For nearly a week, the two lived together in the home. It was the first time since her husband Emory's death three years ago that Judy had someone to cook for. She made him one of her specialties, Johnny Marzetti, a pasta dish with ground round and melted cheese. They grilled out.
"I love to cook, and I didn't have to eat alone," she said.
On Sept. 3, Judy left for Ohio. Sharp was in charge. Judy let him stay for free.
Judy returned the first week in October. She opened the door to her home. It was a mess.
She found 56 beer cans filled with cigarettes and warm beer scattered throughout the house. Her refrigerator was cleaned out. The bacon-wrapped fillets and crab legs she had been saving were gone. The ceramic container that her husband had filled with spare change over the years was empty except for one penny. The bottles of hard alcohol and wines were empty, too.
"He must have had a supergreat time when he was here," she said.
Worst of all, though, $3,000 worth of jewelry was missing. A black pearl necklace, black pearl and diamond earrings, and an emerald bracelet were gone.
"Those were the last things my husband bought me before he died," she said.
She called the Crystal River Police Department.
Police wanted to talk with Sharp. They found him in the Citrus County jail.
Sharp was arrested Sept. 23 on charges of battery, according to an arrest report. Authorities say he punched a woman in front of the Kash n' Karry in Crystal River. In the incident report, he listed Judy's address as his own.
Crystal River police spoke with him. Sharp told them he stayed at Judy's home, but he told them he didn't take any jewelry. Police arrested him on a grand theft charge.
Police also found Sharp was wanted in New Mexico on an embezzlement charge.
Sharp is being held at the Citrus County jail. Jail officials said fugitives from other states are not eligible for bail.
Judy says if her husband were still alive, he'd have one question for her about the whole mess.
"He'd say, "Darling, did you learn something?' " she said, and chuckled. "Yes. I'll never do it again. Never."
