A 45-year-old Ocala man is facing a life sentence after he was found guilty of committing a series of crimes at Paddock Mall.
Earlier this month, Assistant State Attorney Tucker O’Neill with the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office secured a guilty verdict for a “series of alarming crimes” in 2022 that involved 45-year-old Rocco Dominic Gelonese.
According to court records, Gelonese had just been released from prison three days prior to his crime spree at the Paddock Mall in Ocala on August 7, 2022. The incident began at the JCPenney store located inside the mall.
While in the store, Gelonese was observed attempting to leave without paying for a “significant quantity of children’s clothing and a pair of shoes.” Shortly after fleeing from store employees, Gelonese attempted to forcefully enter a van, and he threatened to harm the vehicle’s occupants if they did not comply with his demands.
Gelonese then approached another victim in their car. He attempted to forcibly enter the vehicle and demanded money before fleeing from the area.
With assistance from the witnesses and victims, law enforcement was able to positively identify Gelonese as the suspect through a photo lineup. He was located and arrested a few days after the incident, and he was charged with burglary of a conveyance with assault, burglary of an occupied conveyance, and petit theft.
Due to Gelonese’s prior criminal record and status as a “prison releasee reoffender,” he is facing substantial minimum mandatory sentences, including the possibility of life in prison.
The sentencing for Gelonese is scheduled for Wednesday, January 31.