Digest

Crime journal

By TIMES STAFF
Published August 14, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS

JUST OUT OF JAIL, MAN IS CHARGED WITH BOAT THEFT

A Pasco County man was arrested Saturday on a charge that he stole a boat and trailer worth an estimated $68,000. John Darlington, 45, of Holiday was released from prison less than two weeks ago. He had served about two years for violating his probation on a grand theft charge related to stealing a boat, according to Florida Department of Corrections records and a police report. Contacted Monday after he bailed out of jail, Darlington said the whole thing was a misunderstanding - a claim the boat's owner disputes. David Gause, owner of Gause Built Custom Boats, reported the fishing boat missing Friday. Surveillance tape from the previous evening showed a green Chevrolet Silverado pull into Gause's lot. A man emerged from the vehicle, inspected some of the boats, and then backed up his truck to the 23-foot boat, which was in the shop for maintenance. The intruder then hooked the boat's trailer to the truck's hitch and drove out of the lot, boat and trailer in tow, according to the police report. Darlington was booked into the Pinellas County Jail and released Sunday after posting $15,000 bail.

BROOKSVILLE

Woman, 91, loses $3,500 to scam

A 91-year-old Brooksville woman fell victim to an international telephone scam that turned increasingly absurd, and expensive, over a matter of days. The woman, who was not identified by Hernando County sheriff's officials, ultimately lost $3,500. Authorities are not optimistic that she will recover any of her money. The con, sheriff's officials said Monday, began recently when the woman received a phone call from a man who identified himself as Jack Johnson. The stranger had good news: The woman had won $425,000 in an American Sweepstakes Network in New York. All she had to do to claim her prize was to send $1,500 as insurance on her winnings to someone named Flory Munoz of Costa Rica. She did. Jack Johnson called again, on Aug. 8. The initial $1,500 was not enough to cover the insurance, he said. She needed to send an additional $2,000, this time to Alvaro Nunec of Costa Rica. On Saturday, as she waited for her $425,000 winnings to arrive, she instead received a third call, the Sheriff's Office report states.

ZEPHYRHILLS

Beating victim outwits attacker

After being beaten and choked in her own home, authorities say, Shelly Miley was able to calm down her former beau, the alleged attacker. Then when Dale Eugene Rogers walked outside, she locked the door, cobbled together a working cell phone from broken parts and called for help, authorities say. Rogers, 29, was arrested about 9 a.m. Sunday on charges of domestic battery, false imprisonment, tampering with a witness and criminal mischief. It started about 2 a.m., according to a sheriff's report, when Rogers became angry at the 25-year-old victim. He is accused of breaking into her home, breaking her phones, beating and trying to choke her. Rogers also attempted suicide by downing pills and bleach, the report said. He is being held in the county jail without bail.

[Last modified August 14, 2007, 00:03:56]