Three burglary suspects are behind bars after they were accused of stealing two video game consoles and a safe from a residence in Marion County.
On Monday, January 22, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on SE 129th Avenue in Silver Springs in reference to a burglary and the theft of over $2,500 worth of items, according to the arrest report.
According to the report, investigators learned that at around 8:30 a.m. on Monday, two suspects had forcefully entered the victims’ residence and stole the following items: a Playstation 5 console ($500 value), an Xbox console ($150 value), and a safe containing several packs of prescribed THC gummies and 20 oral capsules ($243 value).
While investigators were at the incident location, one of the victims notified the sheriff’s office that two ads were posted on Facebook Marketplace for the sale of the stolen Xbox (listed for $400) and Playstation 5 (listed for $650). An MCSO corporal noted in the report that the ad included videos and photos of both consoles, and they had the “same distinguishing marks described by the victim.”
The report stated that the online ad was posted by a Facebook profile belonging to Thamydious Melvin McClain, 20, of Ocala.
While at the incident location, a detective made contact with neighbors who had video surveillance footage showing the victims’ home. The footage showed a blue four-door car arriving at the victims’ residence at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, and two men were observed running towards the residence, according to the report.
The vehicle, which had front-end damage on the driver’s side, pulled back in front of the victims’ home and the two men were observed on the footage “running from the residence with multiple items in their possession.” The report stated that the two men then proceeded to enter the vehicle with the stolen items before leaving the area in a northbound direction.
The detective made arrangements with McClain to meet at a specified location to purchase the stolen video game consoles. According to the report, investigators responded to the location and observed a blue Hyundai Elantra with front-end damage on the driver’s side. The vehicle had three occupants: McClain (passenger), 19-year-old Dalton Joel Wayne Goodman of Silver Springs (driver), and 18-year-old Ocala resident J’Von Amiri Hatten-Baker (passenger).
The report stated that the three men provided investigators with the Playstation 5 and Xbox consoles. Unique stickers were observed on both consoles, which confirmed that they belonged to the victims.
After being read their Miranda rights, McClain, Goodman, and Hatten-Baker admitted to traveling together to the victims’ residence at the time of the theft. Two of the suspects – McClain and Hatten-Baker – admitted to entering the victims’ home and stealing several items, including the video game consoles and safe, according to the report.
During a post-Miranda interview, Goodman admitted that he drove McClain and Hatten-Baker to and from the victims’ residence at the time of the theft. In addition, the report stated that all three suspects admitted to attempting to sell the stolen items at a local pawn shop, but the business had offered “too low of a payment.”
All three suspects were arrested and transported to Marion County Jail. McClain and Hatten-Baker are currently being held on $5,500 bond, and they are facing the following charges: unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft over $300 but less than $5,000, and dealing in stolen property.
The report stated that during a pat-down search of Goodman, a detective found a silver handgun in his waistband. Since Goodman is under the age of 21, he is not lawfully able to carry a concealed handgun.
Goodman is currently being held at Marion County Jail on $12,500 bond. He is facing the following charges: unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft over $300 but less than $5,000, dealing in stolen property, using or displaying a firearm during the commission of a felony, and carrying a concealed weapon (unlicensed firearm).
All three suspects are scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, according to jail records.