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Deputies: Manatee County Dad Used Kids To Steal

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CHRISTINA E. SANCHEZ / Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: November 30, 2007

ELLENTON - Bobbie McGraw's gut told her something was wrong when an unkempt man came into her antiques shop. She nearly asked him to leave.

But the two boys and a girl with him were clean and dressed in polo shirts. So she gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Two hours later, she said, she learned her instincts were right. Darrell Leon McDonald Jr., arrested Wednesday, is accused of using his three children as distractions to steal McGraw's wallet and checkbook.

Within hours, officials say, McDonald took the children with him on a spree, cashing checks and buying groceries at four or more Publix supermarkets. He used her credit cards to buy more than $800 worth of gift cards, reports state.

Authorities say McDonald has used the children before to steal from people and businesses across Southwest Florida.

McDonald, 34, of Manatee County, was arrested after he dropped one of the children off at a north Manatee school. McDonald was being held at a county jail Thursday, with bail set at $51,500.

Deputies knew where to find him because he was a familiar face and his routine was known.

"I'm glad he got arrested," McGraw said. "I wasn't letting this slide. Not with what he is teaching those kids."

McDonald is charged with three counts of child neglect, one count of occupied burglary and one count of check forgery. Child protection employees are working to place the children in alternate care, the reports state.

Sheriff's Detective Dawn Atkinson said McDonald is a suspect in at least five similar cases in Manatee County and more charges could be filed. The children were not charged.

McDonald also faces two check charges related to a case in which authorities say he stole checks and credit cards from a friend.

Authorities said McDonald used his three children -- two of them are stepchildren -- to steal from people in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Pasco counties and possibly beyond. He reportedly would get the children to create a distraction so he or one of the children could steal credit cards and checks.

Atkinson said the children, ages 13, 11 and 7, often were late to school or taken out early. McDonald and his girlfriend also recently had a baby boy. The family has been living at a motel near Interstate 75 and State Road 64.

"It's unfortunate because the oldest is a straight-A student," Atkinson said. "This has been a daily thing for them."

One of the more recent thefts happened Oct. 18 at McGraw's shop, Charms' Antiques. McDonald came in about 4 p.m. wearing baggy, low-hanging shorts and a sleeveless shirt.

McGraw said McDonald talked with her and tried to lure her away from the cash register.

She was not fooled. The children were running around.

Then the 13-year-old boy darted out of the shop. McDonald told the other children it was time to leave.

McGraw said McDonald screamed, "I'm going to be late to the party."

After McGraw closed her shop, she noticed her wallet and purse were missing.

McDonald and the children were seen on surveillance cameras cashing the checks at different Publix locations, according to reports.

"The little girl was as sweet as she could be, and I wanted to believe she did not know what was going on," McGraw said. "To them it was probably normal. I hope these kids get a chance."

McDonald has a pending court case in Manatee for third-degree grand theft, which can lead to a five-year prison sentence. In that case, he was accused of withdrawing money from his father's bank account without permission. McDonald shares the same name as his father but is a junior. He signed a withdrawal slip pretending to be his father.

McDonald has several arrests related to burglary and use of fraudulent checks dating to 1992 and one charge of carrying a concealed weapon. He received probation and fines in most of the cases. He served six months in jail in 1995 for check fraud and aggravated battery causing bodily injury.

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