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Hernando Today

More Charges For Robbery Suspect

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KYLE MARTIN

Published: January 18, 2008

SPRING HILL - SPRING HILL - A man linked with a violent break-in Thursday morning had a role in a hotel robbery three hours prior, a detective reports.

The connection surfaced during Detective Pete Ciucci's investigation into the beating of a man just before 6 a.m. on Spring Hill Drive.

A witness from that case led the detective to another person with information about the robbery of the Hampton Inn on Commercial Way.

An affidavit says that three men forcefully entered the hotel's lobby around 3 a.m., jumped the counter and physically assaulted the clerk. The suspects made off with a safe containing $125.

A spokeswoman with the sheriff's office said the hotel is protected at night by two sets of doors divided by a small entryway. One of the outside doors was shattered, and the suspects then yanked open the locked interior door, Deputy Donna Black said.

Damage to the doors was estimated at more than $1,000. The clerk suffered minor injury.

The trail of clues led Ciucci to Leo Johnson III's house at 3477 Redwing Drive around 2 p.m. With Johnson's permission, the detective searched the house and said he discovered clothing used in the hotel robbery.

Ciucci was questioning the suspect when Johnson's two alleged confederates drove by in a white van. Deputies gave chase in their cruisers and later on foot, but the pair escaped. Osvaldo Rojas, 25, and Michael Cardona, 24, remain at large.

In the home invasion robbery, the suspects kicked in the front door looking for drugs and cash, then beat the victim after stealing $600 intended for the rent, Ciucci reported.

Johnson, 36, is charged with home invasion, two separate counts of grand theft and unarmed robbery. No bond has been set because he is on felony probation.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Rojas or Cardona is urged to call 911 immediately. Both are considered armed and dangerous.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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