CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – A Citrus County man with a history of criminal activity has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple burglary and theft charges.
Ashley Jerome Oliver Santiago, 40, of Inverness, entered an open plea to the court on Tuesday morning, just minutes before his trial was set to begin. He was facing charges stemming from two burglaries at an Inverness residence and a theft from a nearby business in November 2024.
Santiago was charged with two counts of Burglary of a Structure, two counts of Felony Petit Theft, and one count of Criminal Mischief. After a brief consultation with his attorney, he opted to enter an open plea, accepting responsibility for his crimes and avoiding a trial.
READ: Citrus County Remembers Jessica Lunsford 20 Years After Tragedy
Judge Joel D. Fritton sentenced Santiago to seven years in prison, followed by three years of felony probation. As a habitual felony offender, Santiago faced enhanced penalties for his crimes.
“The defendant’s repeated criminal behavior shows a clear disregard for the law,” stated Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie. “After recently serving time, he chose to re-offend instead of reform. This sentence will hold him accountable for his actions and protect our community from further victimization.”
The victim of the residential burglaries reported that Santiago, who was identified through surveillance footage, stole a trimmer from their shed and attempted to enter their home on two separate occasions. He was apprehended by Citrus County Sheriff’s deputies while carrying the same clothing seen in the video footage.
READ: Florida Highway Patrol Nets Drug Bust After Routine Traffic Stop In Citrus County
A few days later, the owner of Mattress by Appointment reported a stolen laptop. Surveillance footage showed Santiago entering the business and taking the laptop. The stolen laptop was found in Santiago’s possession at the time of his arrest for the residential burglaries.
Assistant State Attorneys Elizabeth Colombrito and Patsey Jacobs prosecuted the case.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
