More charges for accused kaleidoscope thief

A local man thought stealing kaleidoscopes and selling them online would be a fast way to make money, deputies said.

Most of them sold for less than $35, yet Robert N. Benson faces prison time for selling the stolen goods on eBay, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

Benson, 30, of 7345 Hiawatha Parkway, stole six separate kaleidoscopes, a leather jacket and a razor kit during a home burglary and sold them on the online auction site, deputies said.

Sgt. Donna Black, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said the burglary case has not yet been closed so most details were unavailable.

The kaleidoscope collection and other items were hidden throughout the victim's house, which was "ransacked," she said.

Benson was charged for the latest crimes - eight counts of dealing in stolen property - Monday morning at the Hernando County Jail.

Five days earlier, he was booked in the jail on three previous counts of dealing in stolen property, according to jail records.

That's when he was first investigated for selling the stolen kaleidoscopes online, deputies said.

Subsequent to last week's investigation, authorities contacted Benson's mother, Cathy Luttier, who said her son's eBay account handle is 2010cardguy and he is the only one who uses the account, according to an arrest report.

She also said she personally saw her son in possession of several kaleidoscopes, which he sold on eBay, deputies said.

Records show he sold the jacket for $9.99 and the razor kit for $10.50.

The final sales for the six kaleidoscopes ranged between $14.94 and $56.55, deputies said.

They varied in sizes and styles. Some were made of metal and others wood.

The total sum of all the latest sales was $191.35.

The victim of the burglary positively identified the stolen items through photographs and the "detailed descriptions" given to them on eBay, Black said.

Benson refused to answer questions from detectives, according to the report.

Jail records show Benson was charged in April with grand theft and burglary of a dwelling.

He also was arrested in March on two counts of grand theft.

His previous charges include driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence, animal cruelty, possession of a controlled substance, corruption, trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to jail records.