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Pasco briefs: Tampa man held on multiple burglary charges

By Times Staff
In print: Monday, August 4, 2008

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WESLEY CHAPEL

Tampa man held on burglary charges

A 21-year-old Tampa man has confessed to stealing a number of flat-screen televisions, laptop computers and other electronic items from at least a dozen Wesley Chapel homes over the past two months, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.

Darrin Mason Whritenour faces 12 counts each of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and grand theft. He remained in the Pasco County Jail on Sunday in lieu of $5,000 bail on each charge.

Whritenour was arrested Sunday, five days after being released on bail from the Hillsborough County Jail. He was arrested July 10 on charges of burglary, grand theft, dealing in stolen property, giving false information on a pawnbroker's form and marijuana possession.

Pasco deputies said Whritenour stole several flat-screen and plasma televisions, an electric guitar, a digital camcorder and jewelry, among other items, from 12 homes in Wesley Chapel dating to June 18.

Whritenour committed four of the burglaries after leaving jail in Hillsborough, according to the arrest report from the Sheriff's Office.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Couple arrested when son, 2, found in street

Police arrested a New Port Richey couple Saturday after their 2 1/2-year-old son was found wandering in the street in his diaper, a T-shirt and no shoes.

Lynn Derstine, 43, and Melissa Pouti, 33, were both charged with child neglect. Derstine and Pouti remained in the Pasco County Jail on Sunday in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Deputies arrived at the couple's home at 6639 Candice Lane in New Port Richey after witnesses reported that the toddler was walking in the street. Several other witnesses told deputies that they had found the child roaming the street without his parents about a month ago.

According to the arrest report, Derstine and Pouti didn't know the child was missing from the home. Deputies also found the home to be "dangerous and dirty," including feces and dead bugs on the floor and walls. The child and his 1-year-old brother were subsequently removed from the home, according to the report.