Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 66-year-old man, Richard Vine Newton, found himself in police custody yesterday, facing charges of vehicle theft and fraudulent claims of ownership. Newton allegedly attempted to sell three stolen vehicles to a metal recycling center, posing as their legitimate owner.
Newton’s activities came to light when a deputy from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office discovered his frequent visits to a local metal recycling business over the past week. One of the vehicles he attempted to sell had been flagged as stolen, prompting further investigation.
Upon being questioned, Newton provided a rather unusual explanation. He claimed that while walking back from disposing of his trash, he was approached by an unidentified white man in a pickup truck. This man, according to Newton, requested his assistance in selling a vehicle for cash. Newton agreed, and after learning the man lacked a valid driver’s license, took on the task of driving the truck himself.
Newton recounted that they drove to an unspecified area near T.B. McPherson Park, where the man pointed out a parked vehicle, claiming it was his but expressing uncertainty on how to transport it to a junkyard. Newton offered his expertise in towing vehicles, conveniently revealing that the stranger had a tow strap handy. He then towed the vehicle to the metal recycling center, where Newton signed the necessary paperwork in the man’s stead, supposedly because the stranger lacked a driver’s license. He received a check in exchange for the vehicle.
However, surveillance footage told a different story. The video captured Newton driving the truck to the recycling center accompanied by a young black male, contradicting his account of the unknown white male. This discrepancy led to his arrest and the charges now pending against him.
Another deputy investigated two other vehicles that had been sold by Newton to the metal recycling business and found that they were registered to a father and son with an address in Orange Park. The father said both vehicles should be parked at an address in Gainesville, and the son went to the address and told the deputy that both vehicles were gone.
Newton has been charged with dealing in stolen property, three counts of grand theft of a motor vehicle, uttering false documents, and theft. He has seven felony convictions (one violent) and 15 misdemeanor convictions (two violent) and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2015. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $82,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
