VIERA, Fla. – Someone needs a lesson in civic duty.
Being called in for jury duty wasn't enough for one man, who officials said stole a cellphone and cash at the Brevard County courthouse in Viera this week.
Local 6 news partner Florida Today reports that an arrest report says that, while on a break from jury service Tuesday, Kyle Powell, 18, of Palm Bay, walked into two separate offices at Moore Justice Center and stole an iPhone and $227 cash.
Powell made it home, the report says, and sold the cellphone to a friend for $40. But he didn't get away for long.
"The victim was able to track their smartphone by using a GPS tracker, and it plotted to [Powell's] residence," Brevard County Sheriff's spokeswoman Deputy Maria Fernez said. Powell was arrested Tuesday night and is facing charges of grand and petit theft, and dealing in stolen property.
The cellphone was recovered and returned; however, the report says the man spent the cash on "dinner, cannabis and other miscellaneous items throughout the day."
On the day the items were stolen, the grand jury Powell had been serving on brought a first-degree premeditated murder indictment against Francis Riccio, 46, a man accused of killing and dismembering his 71-year-old mother.
Officials at the State Attorney's Office said they will research other cases to see if there is a precedent on how to handle this situation, adding that no other Brevard grand juror has ever been accused of theft at the time of his service. In the meantime, defense attorneys on cases that went before the current grand jury, which was formed in March, will be notified about Powell's arrest.