Leonard violates parole, no bond

Charles H. Leonard, the man who led law enforcement from three departments on an early morning chase last month in Cortez, was arraigned Dec. 30 on a parole violation.

        Leonard is being held in Manatee County jail without bond, according to Pamela Buha, the assistant state attorney for the case.

        He confessed to 18 burglaries and grand theft auto, in addition to prior stolen vehicles, following his arrest Dec. 19, according to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reports.

         He was found on foot after crashing a stolen car on Cortez Road and a three-hour search that involved several law enforcement units of the sheriff’s office, Bradenton and Palmetto police, a helicopter and a K-9 unit, the reports said.

        Although a $120,000 bond was set for Leonard in the burglary and theft cases, Buha said that unless a judge modifies the “no bond” condition of his parole violation, Leonard will remain in jail awaiting two arraignments.

        At the first arraignment Jan. 13, formal charges are expected on 18 counts of burglary and one count of grand theft of motor vehicle. The second arraignment Jan. 20 is for three counts of grand theft auto, resulting from prior stolen vehicle cases.

        Sheriff’s deputies were initially dispatched to a call of an attempted stolen vehicle at 3:34 a.m. in the area of Sunny Shores Mobile Home Park. The sheriff’s office received a call reporting a man was attempting to push his neighbor’s truck out of its driveway.

        Sheriff’s reports indicate the suspect was seen leaving this area in a white Ford Escort at a “high rate of speed.” The Escort was later determined to be a stolen vehicle by the Bradenton police.

        Multiple calls then reported vehicles ransacked and numerous items missing, including clothes from a shed and a bicycle. A stolen gun also was found inside the stolen Escort, according to a report.

        A deputy found Leonard at 8:19 a.m. with freshly scratched legs, wearing clothes similar to those reported stolen and wet shoes.

        The report also said Leonard admitted to fleeing, changing his clothes and walking through water to evade capture, and “car hopping,” entering unlocked vehicles and rummaging through them with the intent to steal loose change and small items.

        The arraignments will be at 9 a.m. Jan. 13 and Jan. 20 before Judge Janette Dunnigan at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.