Two Spring Hill teens charged with home invasion, grand theft

SPRING HILL — Two Hernando County teenagers have been arrested in connection with a home invasion robbery of a Spring Hill man who was working on his recently purchased home on Apache Trail.

According to a Hernando County Sheriff's Office report, the unidentified victim had been painting the walls in the living room of the home when the two teens entered through the open front door about 3:30 p.m. Friday. One teen brandished a gun and ordered the victim to hand over his wallet, keys and cell phone.

The suspects then fled in the man's 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, striking several mailboxes as they drove away.

The man's vehicle was later seen in the driveway of nearby residence. Witnesses told authorities they saw two young men running from the vehicle. A Sheriff's K-9 team was able to track the suspects to the front door of the residence on Apache Trail.

Jakelle Marique Haygood, 18, and Johnathan Conrad Richardson, 17, were taken into custody and each charged with home invasion and grand theft.

Major case Detective Bryan Faulkingham and detective Sgt. Phillip Lakin learned in interviews that the teen suspects had been watching the man as he made repairs on the recently purchased home.

A search of the home of Richardson yielded the firearm that was used in the robbery, along with several grams of marijuana, authorities said.