Palm Coast, FL - A 30-year-old Palm Coast man is charged with burglarizing a friend's family's home. James Lacertosa is accused of breaking into his friend's home through his bedroom window then stealing items from the home. Televisions, a soundbar, a 39-year-old engagement ring, and prescription drugs to include Morphine Sulfate, Percocet, and Trazadone.
Lacertosa's friend, Eric Carias, is the son of the people who own the home. On May 7, the family had to go to Orlando due to a death in the family. Carias said Lacertosa kept in contact with him through text asking when he thought they would be home. When the family came home to find their home had been broken into, Carias said he suspected Lacertosa as the culprit because of the continuous texts and because they are both addicted to narcotics.
Carias showed deputies his phone, allowing them to photograph the text exchanges. The texts showed Carias sent a message around 11 a.m. that he and his family were leaving the home and that it was going to be along day. There were more texts and at 7:37 p.m., Carias sent a text he was leaving Orlando at that time. when the family arrived home, Carias called Lacertosa asking if he was responsible for the burglary. Lacertosa denied responsibility.
Deputies questioned Lacertosa who continued to deny burglarizing his friend's home. A search of a database for Lacertosa and found him listed as selling a tv on May 7, the day of the burglary. On May 11, WiFi was connected to the tv at the pawnshop. Carias' identity was on screen as a result of the Fire Stick attached. The other stolen items have not been found at this time.
Lacertosa was arrested on May 11 and charged with of Burglary of a Dwelling during a State of Emergency, Dealing in Stolen Property, False Verification of Ownership, Grand Theft, and Criminal Mischief. He's being held at the Flagler County Jail on a bond of $62,500.
