On 12-25-2019, four juveniles, who were court-ordered to stay in a group home in Brooksville over the Christmas holiday, decided to sneak out during the early morning hours.
The four juveniles, all males from Hillsborough County, traveled on foot down Powell Road, and then north on Broad Street until they reached the entrance to the Southern Hills community.
Once inside Southern Hills, which is gated, the juveniles started pulling on the handles of numerous vehicles, attempting to gain entry into unlocked vehicles.
The juveniles removed money from the unsecured vehicles. One vehicle targeted had the keys left inside. All four juveniles got inside that vehicle and drove away.
The juveniles, who ranged in age from 12 to 15, drove around for a period of time before crashing the vehicle into a tree at the intersection of Powell Road and Culbreath Road.
All four juveniles fled the scene following the crash. They proceeded to return to the group home on Powell Road.
Once they arrived, deputies were already on scene taking a missing person(s) report from the owner of the group home.
During questioning, the juveniles admitted to stealing the vehicle and later crashing it into a tree. They also admitted to burglarizing vehicles in Southern Hills.
The juveniles were charged as follows:
– Michael Prado W/M DOB/8-23-2005 – Grand Theft Auto, two counts of Conveyance Burglary
– Malique Johnson B/M DOB/6-28-2004 — Grand Theft Auto, two counts of Conveyance Burglary
– Jeremiah Ackon B/M DOB/10-21-2007 — Grand Theft Auto, two counts of Conveyance Burglary, and Driving without a Valid License
– Dominic Ebanks B/M DOB01-06-2006 — Grand Theft Auto, two counts of Conveyance Burglary, and Driving without a Valid License.
Ebanks was transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) facility in Ocala, while the remaining three were returned to the group home as directed by the DJJ.
