A 23-year-old Montverde man went to jail for stealing his grandmother’s vehicle, even though it was returned the next day.
Dawson Lee Moore was charged with grand theft auto in connection with the theft of a red 2014 Dodge Avenger from the yard of his grandmother’s home on Bay Lake Road in Groveland. The victim reported the vehicle was taken some time between 8 p.m. Aug. 15 and 8 a.m. Aug. 16.
The victim told a Lake County sheriff’s deputy she believed her grandson – Moore – had taken the vehicle because he has stolen from her multiple times in the past. She said Moore was on her property Aug. 14 and 15 cutting down trees in her yard, where the vehicle was parked. The victim said the spare key to the vehicle was taken from the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and Moore was the only person who would have known it was kept there, according to the sheriff’s office report.
Deputies were at the victim’s home on Aug. 16, taking the original report, when she spoke with Moore by phone. They were using the speakerphone when the deputy heard Moore say he knew who stole the vehicle and it was taken to settle a “drug debt.” Moore also said the vehicle was taken to Davenport and he was going to try to get it back from the person who took it, the report said.
At 5 a.m. Aug. 17, a neighbor saw the vehicle get dropped off at the victim’s home. Because it was dark, the neighbor was unable to get a description of the driver of the vehicle, according to the report.
The deputy spoke with Moore at his home on Aug. 30 and he said he didn’t have anything to do with the vehicle being taken. He said once he was done cutting the victim’s trees, he went to stay with a friend in New Smyrna Beach, the report said.
Moore said he wasn’t sure who could have taken the vehicle and that he never told the victim over the phone that it was taken to settle a drug debt. He continued to deny saying it, even after being told a deputy overheard him, according to the report.
A warrant was issued for Moore’s arrest and he was picked up at his home shortly after 2 a.m. Wednesday. He was released from the Lake County Jail on $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Lake County Court on Oct. 24.
