THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
PAGE 8 June 20, 2007
Inglis PD Makes Arrest for
Real Estate Today
Tampering with a Vending Machine
All Loans in Florida Have Interest Rate Limits
A Guest Commentary by Darryl Diamond
A patrolman with the Inglis Police Department was positioned at the intersection of
Two groups of property owners have utilized all manner of private loans to
U.S. Hwy. 19 and N. Inglis Ave., around 12:15 p.m., May 23, when he clocked a white Volvo
carry them over the recent real estate slump. One group is the many flipper
traveling south at 81 mph as it entered the 45 mph speed zone at W. Cason Blvd. The officer
investors. Many of these investors expected to buy a foreclosure or other
initiated a traffic stop at the Citgo gas station.
similar distressed home, fix it up and then sell it for a quick profit. With the
The driver, 37 year-old Mark Thomas Gilbertson of Knoxville, TN, was unable to
recent slump many of these investors are unable to sell at this time, and have
locate the car's registration and said the car belonged to his girlfriend. When the officer
taken out short term high interest private loans to enable them to hold these
checked the license plate of the vehicle, it came back as registered to a Buick (the car
properties.
Gilbertson was driving was a Volvo). The driver was issued a notice to appear in civil court
The other major group are owner/occupants that need quick cash for a down payment on
for the speed violation.
another home or just money to tide them over this economic turndown. It is legal to get a
When the officer asked if he could search the vehicle, Gilbertson said it would be
quick private loan from anyone including your Uncle Harry. However, if you obtain any loan
okay. Another man and a dog were both passengers in the vehicle. The report stated, that
from a private lender, or are lending money to any one, you need to be aware that Florida has
during the search, Gilbertson removed money and a "plastic substance" from under the seat
strict statutes on excessive interest called usury laws.
and also went to the back door and moved items around on the back seat. He told the officer
Florida statute 687.03 states that it is unlawful for any person to collect or attempt to
he was looking for the dog's leash. The officer told Gilbertson, that if he wanted to hold the
collect interest on any obligation at any rate higher than 18% interest per annum simple
dog on a leash, he would get the leash out of the car for him. Gilbertson agreed, and the
interest. So if you are lending any private money to any one, charging more than 18% could
officer removed the leash, which was clearly visable on the back seat, according to the
result in you forfeiting double the amount that was charged, and in addition you then can
report. The driver told the officer that the cash he'd removed was for emergencies.
only receive the initial principle that was loaned. This problem has recently been exposed as
The officer found a large brown burlap money bag on the floor that contained
many private lenders, and borrowers have made their own notes without using a licensed
$69.75 in quarters. The officer reported that he suspected that the money the driver was
mortgage professional, or proper legal assistance.
attempting to conceal had been used to steal the quarters from vending machines, so he
Darryl Diamond has been a licensed mortgage professional since 1992. Please call him
asked Gilbertson where the altered money was that he'd used to acquire the quarters. Gilbertson
before you sign any new mortgage notes, call him before you buy your next home, or call for
replied that it was inside a notebook in the back seat, the report stated. The officer located
any mortgage advise. He can be reached at 447-4442. I'll see you all around "the campus".
the bills inside a spiral ring notebook, a twenty-dollar-bill and a ten-dollar-bill, both which
FREE Teen Driver Improvement Program at
had been altered so that they could be fed into a vending machine, then retrieved out of the
machine by tape that was attached to them.
Yankeetown School, July 5, 6 & 24
Gilbertson and the passenger, 45 year-old Mark Christopher Moretta of Knoxville,
TN, were placed into custody. The officer continued the search and located two wallets, both
The Inglis Police Department is en-
that simulate a response of being impaired -
with identification that did not belong to Gilbertson or Moretta, and another ten-dollar-bill
dorsing the new Levy County Teen Driver
to learn how real driving dangers can be. At
that was cut in the same way as the other two bills and appeared to have previously had tape
Improvement Program, sponsored by the
the end of the course, each student is re-
on it. The vehicle was towed away and the dog was placed in to the custody of the Inglis/
Levy County Sheriff's Office Community Re-
quired to write a letter to his/her parent/s,
Yankeetown Animal Control. Gilbertson and Moretta were taken to the Inglis Police Depart-
lations Department. The free program is of-
apologizing for his/her traffic fatality. Bright
ment for questioning.
fered to all Levy County students who have
Futures Community Service Hours will be
At the police station, Gilbertson admitted that the bills were used to steal money
a current Driver's License or Learners Permit,
given to all students who complete the pro-
from vending machines, but that said that he had been unsuccessful in using them, and that
with the goal of educating teen drivers of the
gram, and all participants will receive a dis-
the change and the altered bills belonged to his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Moretta told the
dangers of impaired, aggressive and dis-
counted price on their student parking per-
officer that he was aware of the money in the vehicle and what the bills were used for, but he
tracted driving, and to reinforce the benefits
mits.
had not observed Gilbertson using them. Gilbertson was placed under arrest on charges of
of seatbeft use. These four issues, (1) im-
A PERMISSION FORM signed by
possession of burglary tools and tampering with a vending machine with the intent to
paired driving, (2) aggressive driving, (3) dis-
the parents or legal guardians of those at-
commit larceny. He was transported to the Levy County Jail and booked on the charges.
tracted driving, and (4) not wearing seatbelts,
tending the course is required, as the pro-
have been found to be the major causes of
gram depicts real life traffic crash photos and
e-mail your news to: newscast@atlantic.net
teen-involved crashes, injuries and fatalities.
videos, some which are very graphic, along
Additionally, in 2005, Levy County ranked
with the human consequences of the crashes.
second in the State of Florida in the number
The permission forms can be picked up at
of teenagers involved in traffic crashes for
the Inglis Police Department, 26 W. Hwy. 40,
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
R&M
counties with a population under 50,000.
Inglis; phone 447-0303. These forms should
Rebuilt
Repaired
Resealed
Rebuilt
The 4-hour program will be held on
be brought with those attending the course
Complete Auto Repairs
three different dates at Yankeetown School,
and given to the officers conducting the pro-
Frontends
Exhaust  TuneUps
A/C lBrakes
A/C
July 5, 6 & 24, from 9:00 a.m. until 1 :00 p.m.
gram. Parents, the Inglis Police Dept. urges
Computer Diagnostics
(each day is a complete course). The pro-
you to make sure your teen drivers take ad-
Changes while you wait
gram consists of classroom instructions, vid-
vantage of this program. Let's keep our teens
4X4's
RV's
Trucks
Autos
eos, power point presentations and hands-
driving safely! For more information, please
Foreign & Domestic
on time where the students will actually drive
contact Lt. Sean Mullins or Sgt. Max Long at
Free Estimates
a golf cart through a course wearing goggles
(352) 486-5111, ext. 278.
352-447-0704
Visa - Mastercard - Discover
Realty
Accepted
Fax Line 447-6040
Sally Price, Realtor
Email: pricesally@yahoo.com
Bubba's Fin & Feather
CELL(352) 302-8556 OFFICE(352) 447-2526
MONDAY - $1.75 Margaritas ALL DAY
78 Hwy 40 W. Inglis, FL 34449
WEDNESDAY - LADIES NIGHT - with Michael Chekk
The HOTTEST DJ Around!
LET MY 45 YEARS ON THE NATURE COAST HELP YOU BUY OR
Off Hwy 40
THURSDAY - Drink & Drown Night with Robin
SELL YOUR PLACE IN PARADISE!
On Lk. Rousseau
FRIDAY - Karaoke with Dianne 8:00 pm until Midnight
Hunt Camp Get Away in Hammock ready to move in ............$35,000
SATURDAY DJ/DANCE Night with Michael Chekk
Call 447-2755
SUNDAY - LIVE MUSIC - 3:00-7:00 pm
2 Lots on hill overlooking Lake Rousseau both for..............$79,000
for info
JULY 14th WOW 104.3 Hawaiian Tropic BEER,
3/2 Mobile on canal to river, corner lot, large oaks ............$139,000
BIKINI, AND BEADS!
New Hours: Open 10 a.m
5.75 ac Lot on Hwy 40 High, Dry and Lots of trees .............$154,900
to Close 7 days
4/2 Mobile (handicap acces) 1 ac new roof carpet siding.....$88,000
BIKER & FAMILY-FRIENDLY Discounts Available - Show a valid veteran or
2 lots Peaceful Acres paved street, homes only each .........$23,000
active military ID, or wear a Bubba's t-shirt, for Happy Hour pricing, Monday
6 Acres and Upgraded Modular Hwy 40 Yankeetown ........$229,000
through Thursday!!