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Pasco Detectives Jail Man In Beating, Robbery Of Camper

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2009

CRYSTAL SPRINGS - A 24-year-old man was arrested Monday, accused of beating and robbing a man and then setting his tent ablaze.

Orlando Vega-Rivera, of 1623 Partridge Blvd., faces charges of attempted murder and armed robbery. He was being held today at the Land O' Lakes Jail with bail set at $300,000.

On Dec. 4, a 38-year-old man was camping alone near Deems Road on a 60-acre piece of property owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District when he was awakened by someone outside his tent.

The stranger, who said his name was Joe, told the camper he "was making sure he was OK."

"You won't be all right if you come into my tent," the camper reportedly told the stranger, who then walked away.

Moments later, the camper went outside and saw two men walking toward him from a copper-colored Chevrolet Caprice. One was carrying a shotgun and the other was carrying a tire iron, a report states. They demanded money.

The man identified as Joe hit the victim in the face several times with the butt and barrel of the shotgun. The other man hit him in the head with the tire iron.

The victim grabbed the tire iron and fought back briefly.

Joe told the camper he was in a gang and that the members were "making him" beat him up, a report states.

One of the men set the tent on fire.

The victim didn't move until he heard the car leave and then went to the nearest house to get help. He was treated at a local hospital for a broken hand, head lacerations, a cheek fracture and bruising, a report states.

His name is being withheld because one of the suspects remains at large.

Through leads, detectives located Vega-Rivera. Pasco County sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll said the victim identified Vega-Rivera from a photo pack.

The case remains under investigation, Doll said.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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