Contributed by editorial staff
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Yesterday, Andre Lejuan Sessions, 37, faced arrest on accusations of pilfering and selling off landscaping tools belonging to two companies and the City of Gainesville.
The incident unfolded around 8:45 a.m. on July 20, when a landscaping crew from the first company, busy at the Winn Dixie Plaza located at 1459 NW 23rd Avenue, parked their truck and trailer. Although they were engrossed in their work at a distance, they inadvertently left the trailer’s rear door ajar.
According to a witness, a gray Ford Focus arrived at the scene, and a man emerged to snatch a leaf blower along with two weed whackers from the open trailer, items valued at approximately $850. This act was also captured by security cameras.
Upon tracing the license plate of the Ford Focus, investigators discovered it was registered to Sessions’s wife. Sessions, a former Gainesville city landscaper, had lost his job after being caught absconding with lawn equipment in a previous incident.
On July 21, Sessions allegedly pawned the leaf blower, providing his thumbprint and pledging that he was the sole and rightful owner of the property. The serial number matched the first victim’s records.
At 9 a.m. on July 21, the second victim’s crew was parked at the Goodwill at 1223 NW 23rd Avenue and was working at the plaza next door; again, the trailer’s rear door was left open. Video from the Goodwill reportedly shows a gray Focus driving up; a man gets out, checks the empty bed of the truck, enters the trailer, and comes out with a leaf blower, valued at $600.
On July 27, Sessions allegedly pawned the blower in Starke, providing his thumbprint and pledging that he was the sole and rightful owner of the property. The serial number matched the second victim’s records.
At about 9 a.m. on July 29, a City of Gainesville landscaper parked a City truck and trailer at City Hall and began mowing the grass. Video at City Hall captured a gray Focus driving up; a man gets out and steals an edger and two blowers from the trailer, valued at $1,250.
The same day, Sessions allegedly pawned the edger, providing his thumbprint and pledging that he was the sole and rightful owner of the property. The serial number matched the City’s records.
On August 1, Sessions was arrested in Bradford County for theft, dealing in stolen property, and providing false information in a pawn transaction.
Sessions’s address is listed as Hawthorne, but he told Court Services that he lives in Hampton and works for a lawn service company. He has been charged with three counts of dealing in stolen property, three counts of burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, three counts of providing false information in a pawn transaction, two counts of grand theft, and one count of petit theft; he is also facing a Notice to Appear for battery in Alachua County and is on pre-trial release in Bradford County on the charges listed above. He has served one state prison sentence and was released in 2013. Judge Joy Danne set bail at $285,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.