Ocala man, Gelonese, sentenced to life for crime spree due his repeat offender status
Office of the State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Serving Marion, Lake, Citrus, Sumter, Hernando counties
Serving Marion, Lake, Citrus, Sumter, Hernando counties
Marion County, Florida - On Wednesday morning, January 31, 2024, 45 year-old Rocco Dominic Gelonese of Ocala, Florida was senteced to serve a life sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections by the Honorable Judge William I. Pope. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Tucker O'Neill.
During the second week of January 2024, jurors rendered a guilty verdict against Gelonese, who had been released from prison less than a month before his crime spree that occurred on August 7, 2022, at the JC Penney store and parking lot at the Paddock Mall in Ocala, Florida.
While in the store, Gelonese was observed attempting to leave the without paying for a significant quantity of children's clothing and a pair of shoes. When he fled from store employees, he attempted to forcefully enter a van, threatening the occupants with harm if they did not comply with his demands. Gelonese then attempted to forcibly enter a second vehicle, demanding money from the driver before fleeing. Witnesses and victims identified Gelonese through a photo lineup, and he was arrested a few days later, on August 11, 2022. He was incarcerated at the Marion County Jail in Ocala.
Gelonese was charged with burglary of a conveyance with assault, burglary of an occupied conveyance, and petit theft. Gelonese faced a potential life sentence due to his Prison Releasee Reoffender (PRR) status.
"This sentencing of a repeat offender to life is a firm declaration that habitual lawlessness will not be tolerated in our community," said William "Bill" Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. "Our commitment to justice and public safety remains unwavering."