A Florida man is facing theft charges after a body scan revealed some unusual evidence in his stomach. The 21-year-old man was arrested on Dec. 11 after a report of a nearby home invasion. He was originally stopped by police for reckless driving, but officers became suspicious after they noticed that his 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe matched the description of a vehicle reported stolen in a home invasion in Safety Harbor.
The accused was taken into custody for grand theft and was transported to the county jail. While there, he underwent a body scan by walking through an x-ray machine. Authorities reportedly noticed a dark mass near the man’s stomach. According to authorities, that black mass was two stolen necklaces. Police officials believe the suspect swallowed the necklaces before he was taken to jail.
The necklaces were removed via surgery at a nearby hospital. The suspect now faces a charge for tampering with physical evidence in addition to the grand theft charge. He was in custody at Pinellas County Jail and was being held on $15,000 bond. If convicted, he could be sentenced to jail time, probation and fines.
Theft charges can result in serious penalties, even if the manner in which the alleged evidence is found may be unusual like in this case. Although the alleged evidence was found in the man’s body, a conviction is not inevitable; he has the right to present a defense in court. A criminal defense attorney may be able to help an individual suspected of committing a crime by preparing an appropriate defense after reviewing the client’s case. If a conviction seems likely, the attorney may be able to negotiate a plea that would minimize the conviction’s consequences.
Source: RYOT, “WTF Florida? Jail’s X-Ray Scanner Reveals Stolen Jewelry Inside Suspect’s Stomach”, Anna Culaba, December 16, 2013