A man is accused of stealing cash and a phone on Christmas Eve at Magic Kingdom, according to newly released sheriff’s records.
Jonathan Javier Guevara Llerena, 33, of North Plainfield, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with grand theft and petit theft, Orange Circuit Court records show.
(If you’re wondering why we’re writing about this case now, it’s because the Orange County Sheriff’s Office took months to release public records.)
Guevara Llerena’s arrest led to a scene at the Magic Kingdom while guests were celebrating the holidays. What happened is bizarre.
A teenager realized his cell phone was missing from his backpack. While the fireworks exploded in the night sky, the teenager called his number from another phone to find his cell when his missing device rang from Guevara Llerena’s pocket. Guevara Llerena, apologized and gave the phone back to the teenager, saying he didn’t know it was his, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s report.
Nearby, a Davenport woman and her sister from Connecticut watched what was happening and got involved. Then they realized they, too, were victims of a theft.
The Connecticut woman discovered her fake Michael Kors wallet containing $1,700 was missing from her backpack.
They apparently did their own detective work. The family confronted Guevara Llerena, who again had the wallet in his pocket, but the money was gone.
“Jonathan told [the Davenport woman] that he did not know how the wallet got in his pocket,” the sheriff’s report said. “After being confronted, [the Davenport woman] advised that an unknown white female later came up to Jonathan, and he handed something to her before she walked away.”
Authorities got involved.
“Due to this confrontation causing a scene in the park, Disney security came on scene and later escorted [the Davenport woman] and her family to the security office along with Jonathan,” the sheriff’s report said.
Inside Disney’s security office, the Davenport woman said Guevara Llerena’s girlfriend called his phone and spoke with her, trying to bribe her. The girlfriend offered the Davenport woman $500 if she didn’t pursue criminal charges against Guevara Llerena. It didn’t work. The Davenport woman wanted Guevara Llerena prosecuted.
The sheriff’s office was not able to find the teenager whose phone was initially stolen or Guevara Llerena’s girlfriend. The arrest report also noted that $300 of the stolen money was not recovered.
Court records show that Guevara Llerena is represented by the public defender’s office and pleaded not guilty in January. His next court hearing is scheduled for this week.
Editor’s note: His surname is spelled both Guevarallerena and Guevara Llerena in court and sheriff’s records.
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