DAYTONA BEACH – A Port Orange man who burgled a New Smyrna Beach home was convicted on felony charges of Burglary of a Dwelling, Dealing in Stolen Property, and Giving False Owner Info to a Pawn Shop following a jury trial on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Brandin Duane Rongstad, 28, faces a maximum possible penalty of 45 years in prison at a sentencing hearing to be set. Prosecutors intend to seek a Prison Releasee Reoffender enhancement on Mr. Rongstad based on his criminal history.
Evidence at trial showed that Rongstad had been inside the home of the Victims on several occasions as a house cleaner working for his mother. The Victims noticed that several pieces of jewelry went missing over an extended period of time. Investigator Brian Morris, of the New Smyrna Beach Police Department, tracked several pieces of jewelry to area pawn shops. Rongstad had pawned the stolen items after stealing them while cleaning the homes.
Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak, of the State Attorney’s Office Career Criminal Unit, prosecuted the case with Assistant State Attorney Eric Leb. Seventh Circuit Judge Frank Marriott presided over the case and will pronounce sentence at a hearing to be set.
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