Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - more charges

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

A recent article in the St. Pete Times website talks about how an alleged criminal's problems just went from bad to worse...

DUNEDIN — Authorities added 10 more charges in the case of a man they believe committed a string of armed robberies in north Pinellas County in a 10-day span that ended Monday.

The defendant, a 36 year old man from Largo, was charged in connection with two Clearwater robberies, the first at Dollar General on N Myrtle Avenue on Oct. 20 and another at a Walgreens drugstore at 1505 S Belcher Road on Monday.

The additional charges, according to Clearwater police, were two counts of armed robbery, four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of using a firearm during commission of a felony and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm.

The Defendant has been connected to four robberies in all.

He was initially arrested Wednesday by Pinellas County sheriff's deputies and charged with two counts of armed robbery in connection with Dunedin robberies at Munchee's Store on Union Street on Oct. 26 and Dodge Store on Patricia Avenue on Oct. 27. He also was charged with driving while license suspended or revoked.

Detectives noticed a pattern to the robberies and set up surveillance Wednesday at locations in Dunedin and Clearwater, the Sheriff's Office said.

During that operation, deputies saw a white Cadillac driving slowly through business parking lots. The man behind the wheel matched a description of the robber, the Sheriff's Office said. Deputies pulled the car over in Dunedin and found the defendant was driving on a suspended license.

The defendant had previously pleaded no contest to a charge of criminal use of identification in 2006 and was later sentenced to six months to be served on work release, according to Pinellas court records.

He was held Thursday in the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $360,000 bail.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for robbery or violent crime? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!

For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense lawyers please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.