A maintenance man working on Longboat Key — and previously convicted of stealing a diamond ring — was charged in a second burglary and jewelry theft at the Windward Bay condominiums in the 4900 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive.
Michael M. Artman, 53, of Holmes Beach, was arrested Dec. 20, 2015, on a warrant for burglary and grand theft.
The new case stems from August 2013 when a condo resident reported leaving his door unlocked, and on return from a trip to the grocery store, the man was surprised to find the door locked and jewelry missing, according to an affidavit by Detective Sgt. Robert Bourque of Longboat Key Police Department.
The affidavit states that when the condo resident left, he saw Artman’s van in the parking lot.
Bourque’s affidavit lists the missing jewelry as a man’s gold ring with a black onyx stone, a gold bracelet and necklace, a stainless-steel bracelet and a costume ring. Bourque said the jewelry was valued at $1,500.
Before Artman’s initial arrest in March 2014, he’d worked at the complex for more than 17 years and had access to the units.
Windward Bay was his regular maintenance job, and he also performed side jobs for residents, the detective added.
In a March 27, 2014, police interview, Artman allegedly told police he entered the Windward Bay 4900 unit and took a black onyx ring although, later in the interview, he said he was unsure about stealing the ring.
Accounting records from Bridge Street Jewelers, 129 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach, show the jeweler paid Artman $305 one day after the onyx ring and other jewelry were reported missing.
Bridge Street Jewelers co-owner Kassy Quinn said Artman sold jewelry to the store for four years before his first arrest, dealing with one of their employees. She said they believed Artman was selling jewelry from his mother’s estate and that the employee does not recall the black onyx ring transaction.
According to the police investigation, Artman admitted to 10-15 similar crimes.
Between 2010 and 2014, Bridge Street Jewelers wrote Artman 72 checks for items he sold them, according to Bourque’s affidavit.
The LBKPD received other complaints about stolen jewelry from the complex, but none of those cases have resulted in charges against Artman, Bourque said.
Bourque blamed the limited number of cases on the jeweler’s spotty record keeping.
While the jewelers checks to Artman were traceable, the store did not record a description of the items purchased.
The detective said the jewelry store no longer purchases items from individuals, only distributors.
In December 2014, 12th Judicial Circuit Judge John Lakin sentenced Artman to two years probation for the 2014 diamond theft and break-in — rejecting the state’s recommendation of four years in prison and calling Artman’s acts unsophisticated, according to the prosecutor.
“I’d love to see little more than probation — maybe he’d actually get a little jail time,” said Quinn about a future court sentencing.
Bourque said he hoped Artman’s second arrest would result in “a just sentence.”
After his December arrest, Artman spent 20 days in Manatee County jail before posting a $9,000 bond.
His next court date is XXX at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.