Michael Ornelas, 63, failed to appear in court Thursday morning for his sentencing status hearing, meaning he is now presumed to be on the run. Ornelas previously pleaded no contest to four burglary charges and a count of racketeering for stealing $16 million in valuables from 23 jewelry stores across Florida, including multiple in Hernando County.
According to his attorney, Eric Tippin, Ornelas has been out on bond and living in South Florida, but Tippin admitted his office had not heard from Ornelas for a couple months. Judge Daniel Merritt revoked Ornelas’ bond and a warrant will likely soon be issued for his arrest. Ornelas and two accomplices, Matthew Petrucelli and William Granims, are accused of using sophisticated tactics to break into jewelry stores over the course of eight years.
The alleged burglaries drew national attention because of their sophisticated tactics,the men broke through walls of adjacent businesses, disabled alarms, monitored police frequencies, drilled holes in safes and targeted the most valuable items in the store. Petrucelli and Granims are still scheduled to be sentenced. Ornelas’ final sentencing is now set for June 4, but it is unclear if he will be in custody by then.
Tippin expressed concern for Ornelas’ well-being, citing his severe, unmanaged diabetes. However, the state asserted that its medical investigators had not been able to find any evidence of Ornelas being treated at any hospitals or medical facilities recently.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
