An 18-year-old Fort McCoy man was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) after he was accused of burglarizing several vehicles in a local neighborhood.
On April 11, 2022, MCSO received a report in reference to several vehicle burglary incidents, and a deputy responded to the 10900 block of E Highway 318 in Fort McCoy. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the first victim who stated that someone had unlawfully entered his unlocked Dodge Ram truck.
According to the first victim, the suspect had gone through his center console, and the victim’s 9mm Taurus handgun had been stolen from behind the driver’s seat. The victim last recalled seeing his firearm in the vehicle during the previous evening.
Another MCSO deputy arrived on scene, conducted a neighborhood canvas, and spoke with a neighbor of the first victim who stated that her Chevrolet Impala had been opened sometime during the evening. According to the second victim, nothing appeared to have been stolen from her vehicle.
The deputy who initially responded to the neighborhood was also conducting a canvas of the area, and the deputy spoke with a third victim who lived in close proximity to the first victim.
When the third victim woke up on April 11, 2022, he stated that the trunk to his 2007 Pontiac car was opened, and his wallet had been stolen from the center console. The third victim told the deputy that he walked down his driveway and found his wallet, along with a black glove that was collected by the deputy for evidence.
The MCSO report stated that on April 22, 2022, Stephen L. Longmire III was developed as a “person of interest” since he lived near the incident locations and had a history of committing vehicle burglaries.
An MCSO deputy responded to Longmire’s residence in the 10000 block of NE 233rd Street and made contact with him. According to the MCSO report, Longmire’s mother was present for a non-custodial interview, and Longmire denied any involvement in the vehicle burglary case.
The glove, along with a DNA swab from Longmire, was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further examination and comparison, according to the MCSO report. On Friday, October 14, 2022, MCSO received a response advising that Longmire’s DNA was found inside the glove.
Longmire was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $38,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for unarmed burglary of an unoccupied conveyance (two counts), grand theft of a firearm, and armed burglary of a dwelling, structure, or conveyance.
Longmire is also facing a misdemeanor charge for second degree petit theft.
A court date has been scheduled on Tuesday, November 22 at 9 a.m., according to jail records.