An 18-year-old Ocala man and two teenagers were arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after they were accused of breaking into a local residence and smoking marijuana inside the home.
On Friday, February 24, an MCSO detective responded to Locust Loop in Ocala to assist with a traffic stop involving a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, the detective made contact with the deputy who had conducted a traffic stop on a silver Acura four-door sedan, according to the MCSO report.
In the report, the detective noted that the Acura vehicle had three occupants: an adult driver identified as Alex Duval Lynch, a 16-year-old male passenger, and a 15-year-old male passenger.
After the three occupants of the vehicle were detained, the detective responded to the incident location in the 200 block of Oak Lane Loop. Upon arrival, the detective made contact with a female property manager who advised that she was in the area to conduct a security check.
The property manager told the detective that unknown suspects have been unlawfully entering the homes that she manages, and these suspects have caused extensive damages.
According to the MCSO report, the property manager advised that she had approached the incident location when she observed a silver Acura four-door sedan parked next to the home. When the property manager pulled her vehicle into the driveway, she stated that she observed three male suspects inside the home, and they quickly “ducked out of sight.”
The property manager told the detective that the three male suspects exited the home in different directions. When the MCSO deputy later conducted the traffic stop on the silver Acura sedan, the property manager positively identified Lynch and the 15-year-old male passenger.
The MCSO report stated that the property manager was unable to positively identify the 16-year-old male passenger due to him “running in the opposite direction of her line of sight” at the incident location.
The detective made contact with Lynch. After being read his Miranda rights, Lynch stated that he was driving around the neighborhood with the two teenagers, and they were “looking for a place to possibly rent.” He stated that they spotted the incident location and proceeded to enter the residence through the back sliding glass door.
In the MCSO report, the detective noted that there was a “fresh smell of burnt marijuana” near the back sliding glass door, and a marijuana cigarette was found inside a water bottle at the incident location.
During separate interviews, the 15-year-old boy denied smoking marijuana, but Lynch and the 16-year-old boy both told the detective that “all three of them were smoking marijuana” until they were caught by the property manager, according to the MCSO report.
Lynch was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and he was later released on $16,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and a misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana (20 grams or less).
A court date has not been scheduled yet for Lynch, according to jail records.
The MCSO report stated that the 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old boy were both arrested and transported to juvenile processing. They are also facing charges for unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and possession of marijuana (20 grams or less).