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By Times staff reports
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 29, 2001
Man already in jail charged with 5 burglaries
LAND O'LAKES -- A 33-year-old man already in jail was charged Monday in connection with five burglaries since November.
Scott Ian Robinson of 15451 Lancer Road in Spring Hill is charged with breaking into five homes and stealing more than $7,500 in six months, reports stated.
Robinson already was in custody after he tried to flee from police officers earlier this year, deputies said.
They said he admitted to the burglaries, which took place in Brooksville, Spring Hill and Land O'Lakes.
Robinson remained in the county jail in Land O'Lakes on Tuesday in lieu of $82,500 bail.
LAND O'LAKES -- Deputies arrested a seventh-grader Monday at Pine View Middle School on charges of bringing two folding knives to school.
The boy, 12, was arrested after officials found the knives in a pocket in his book bag, a report stated. His name is being withheld by the Times because of his age.
The blade on one of the knives was about 21/4 inches long. The blade on the other knife was about 13/4 inches long.
The boy told deputies it was the first time he ever had brought the knives to school. He faces charges of possession of a weapon on school property. He was taken Tuesday to the Pasco County juvenile detention center.
WESLEY CHAPEL -- A 17-year-old boy was arrested Friday after selling a firearm to another teen, authorities said.
Reports stated that the boy, whose name is being withheld by the Times because of his age, sold a .22-caliber rifle to a 16-year-old, whom deputies did not name.
The 17-year-old faces charges of furnishing weapons to a minor younger than 18. He was taken to the Pasco County juvenile detention center.
HUDSON -- A California man accused of grabbing $50 from a woman at Calendar Girls, punching her and hitting two people with his car was arrested early Tuesday morning outside the exotic dance club.
Michael Barnett Mofson, 36, of Rowland Heights, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, unarmed robbery, simple battery and leaving the scene of a crash with injuries, Pasco sheriff's deputies said.
Witnesses said Mofson slapped Courtney Thomas, grabbed money from her pocket, punched her in the face when she followed him into the parking lot and ran over her right leg with his car, according to his arrest report.
Steven Bernon took off in a car chasing Mofson and said Mofson ran him off the road, the report said. When Bernon got out of his car, Mofson slammed into him with his car, hitting Bernon's head on his windshield, the report said.
Bernon suffered minor injuries, according to the report. Thomas was taken to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, treated and released.
Mofson told deputies a different story. According to the report, he said his friend gave Thomas $100 for a dance. When he learned that Thomas didn't work at the bar, he asked for the money back. He said she gave him only $50.
As he was leaving, two men and a woman assaulted him, he said. He told the deputies nothing about hitting anyone.
A manager at Calendar Girls said later Tuesday that he doesn't know whether a Courtney Smith works at the bar because he doesn't ask the women for their real names.
Mofson was being held Tuesday afternoon at the county jail in Land O'Lakes in lieu of $30,250 bail.
HUDSON -- A 12-year-old Hudson Middle School student was arrested Friday after he punched and kicked a teacher who was breaking up a fight, Pasco deputies said.
The boy, who is not being named by the Times because of his age, told deputies he punched teacher Maria Martinez because she confronted him, according to his arrest report.
The boy was taken to the county juvenile detention center near San Antonio.
HUDSON -- A 16-year-old boy was arrested Friday and charged with selling Zazu, the Congo African grey parrot, who was stolen from his cage at a carport on Boatyard Drive earlier this month, Pasco deputies said.
The boy sold the parrot, which was stolen Aug. 7 and returned Aug. 10, for $50 to a friend's parents, deputies said. The Times is not naming the boy because of his age.
The boy said he knew the $700 parrot was stolen when he sold it, according to his arrest report. He was charged with dealing in stolen property.
NEW PORT RICHEY -- A 24-year-old man was arrested Monday after he ransacked the bedroom of his mother's ex-boyfriend, punched the man in the face and cut him with a broken pane of glass, Pasco deputies said.
Jeffery Lee Stone of 3700 Berkshire St. in New Port Richey was charged with aggravated battery, deputies said.
Stone was visiting John Jeffrey Greenwald early Monday morning at Greenwald's home on Trouble Creek Road. When Greenwald's roommate, Michael Swift, came home, he discovered his room had been ransacked, deputies said.
As Swift lay on his bed, Stone came into his room, punched him in the nose and cut Swift's calf with a broken pane of glass, deputies said. Swift ran to the RaceTrac gas station at Trouble Creek Road and U.S. 19 to call 911. He was taken to North Bay Hospital, where he received stitches for the cut.
Swift said Stone caused $5,000 damage to his room, according to deputies.
Stone was being held Tuesday afternoon at the county jail in Land O'Lakes in lieu of $15,000 bond.