Christmas House purchase still on the table following arrest

In spite of his arrest Wednesday morning on an out-of-state warrant, Matthew Senge is still the future buyer of Rogers' Christmas House, his wife said.

Senge, 38, was arrested by Brooksville police at the downtown business. He was expected to close this week on 49 percent ownership of Rogers'.

"The sale still stands," said Karen Hyde, who answered the phone at the store. "Rogers' wants to sell and Matthew wants to buy. All is well."

A spokeswoman with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office in Bay Minette, Ala., confirmed Senge, who also goes by the name Matthew Hyde, had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court on a theft by deception charge.

Brooksville Chief George Turner said Senge was cooperative when police officers took him into custody.

Authorities in Alabama have promised to pursue an extradition, he said.

Rogers' Christmas House, located at 103 S. Saxon Ave., is owned by George Rodriguez.

He took over the store two years ago after previous owner Donna Jones filed for bankruptcy.

Jones bought the business from founder Margaret "Weenie" Ghiotto in 2005. Ghiotto started the business in 1970 selling Christmas collectibles at the corner of her father's downtown department store.
She died in 2006.

Brooksville Mayor Lara Bradburn wouldn't talk about Senge or his arrest because it is a police investigation, but said she was disappointed in the latest saga for the business, which has suffered through financial difficulties since Ghiotto sold it.

"I refuse to believe its days are numbered," Bradburn said of the Christmas store.

Senge was expected to complete the purchase Friday.

Turner said Senge has been on probation and his arrest Wednesday means he would face a violation charge.

Senge also was arrested three times in Hillsborough County from March 2008 to March 2009, according to public records.

His charges included obtaining property with a worthless check, domestic battery, tampering with a witness and escaping from law enforcement custody.

He also was convicted of organized fraud in February 2008 in Hernando County Circuit Court. Fourteen months later, he was convicted of domestic battery and resisting arrest without violence in the same courthouse.

Court records show he still owes restitution for his fraud conviction and his case was sent to a collections agency earlier this month.