February 25, 2019
The Levy County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded
to two homes in Inglis on February 21, 2019. These homeowners awoke to discovered
someone entered their property and stole tools along with other items. One of
the homeowner’s had video surveillance in the carport area of their home which captured
images of the burglar and his vehicle. LCSO Patrol Deputies and Detectives from
the Criminal Investigations Division reviewed the video and were able to
positively identify Jacob Benfield (12-28-91) of Inglis, as the suspect.
On February 22, 2019 Detectives located Benfield at 18351 SE
Butler Road in Inglis. Detectives identified the vehicle used in the burglaries
was parked at this home. Inside the vehicle, a white Ford F-150, were items
matching the description of the property stolen from both homes in Inglis the
day before. Detectives also learned the F-150 had been reported stolen to the
Citrus County Sheriff’s Office from the parking lot of Wal-Mart in Inverness on
February 16, 2019.
Benfield was wanted for grand theft from a previously reported
case and was taken into custody. Benfield spoke to Detectives and ultimately confessed
to the burglaries reported the previous day and to the theft of the truck from
Inverness. Benfield was book in at the Levy County Detention Facility and
charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of burglary of a
dwelling, one count of burglary of a conveyance, one count of grand theft and
one count of petit theft. He is being held in lieu of $180,000.00 bond.