Former manager of fireworks store near DeLand accused of stealing carloads of fireworks
A former manager at Four Seasons Fireworks near DeLand told deputies that she stole thousands of dollars' worth of fireworks to resell and pay off her debt, according to a press release from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Jessica Clark, 33, of Paisley, was charged with grand theft over $10,000 on Tuesday and was released later that day from the Volusia County Branch Jail after posting $5,000 bond, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.
Clark on multiple occasions took carloads of fireworks from the business, located at 1680 N. Woodland Blvd, the release stated.
An inventory of the stolen cases indicated the total value was $14,239.42, the release stated. The fireworks varied in price and name. A product called a “Saturn Missile” had an approximate value of $6.99, an "Evil Clown" was about $12.99, while another firework called a “Sparta” was valued at about $189.99, the affidavit stated.
Additional products included “Killer Panda” fireworks at approximately $19.99 each; “Living Dead” at $49.99 each; and “Go Gator” and “Beef Cake" at $59.99 each, according to the affidavit.
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The business manager, whose name was redacted in the report, became aware of the issue when another employee contacted her on June 21 saying Clark had asked for help loading her vehicle, according to a charging affidavit. The employee felt uncomfortable about the request and texted a picture of the fireworks to be loaded into the car, the affidavit stated.
The next day the business manager parked her car near the store and watched Clark and the employee loading Clark’s vehicle, the affidavit stated. The business manager intervened and the items were unloaded and placed back in the store, the affidavit stated. The next day, Clark returned another load of fireworks, the affidavit stated.
The business manager contacted the sheriff’s office on Monday and said she would call them again once she inventoried the stolen items, the affidavit stated.
On Tuesday, Clark returned to the business’ warehouse with another load of stolen fireworks, the affidavit stated. The business manager called the sheriff’s office and a deputy spoke with Clark, the affidavit stated.
Clark said that she had a large amount of debt and was intending to sell fireworks to pay it off, the affidavit stated.
Deputies helped unload the fireworks and arrested Clark, the release stated.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida fireworks store manager charged with stealing cases of fireworks
