Cochara involved in similar incident in North Port
A 39-year-old North Port man has been charged with Attempted Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling after he allegedly entered a Venice home on Nov. 19 while the owner was present, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has reported.
Justin Michael Cochara, of 4470 Cazes Ave., was placed in the county jail under $20,000 bond, 12th Judicial Circuit Court records show. If he is released on bond, he must remain under a high level of supervision, with random drug testing required no less than once a week, and he would have to stay away from both the victim and the location of the incident, as shown in a document signed by Circuit Judge Kennedy Legler. That document was completed after Cochara’s first appearance in court, which was on Dec. 3, as noted on the form.
A Sheriff’s Office news release says, “Cochara was observed on video parking in the victim’s driveway. He then opened the front door of the residence, while wearing blue latex gloves and carrying a backpack.”
The release adds, “Cochara told the victim he thought she ‘wanted company’; the victim immediately told Cochara to leave” and contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
The location of the incident was redacted from the Probable Cause Affidavit in the case.
Cochara was arrested on Dec. 2 by Criminal Investigations Section (CIS) detectives and members of the Tactical (TAC) Unit, the Sheriff’s Office release says. “When he was taken into custody, he was wearing blue latex gloves.”
The release also points out, “During this investigation, detectives collaborated with the North Port Police Department and the Sarasota Police Department.”
Further, it says, “If you have any information pertaining to this subject, please contact Detective Pelfrey with the SCSO Criminal Investigations Section” at 941-861-4900 or Crime Stoppers 941-366-8477 or sarasotacrimestoppers.com.
Details in the Probable Cause Affidavit
The Probable Cause Affidavit in Cochara’s case says that after he entered the Venice dwelling, the victim “came face to face” with him. Following her questioning of his actions, the affidavit continued, he departed the area in a red vehicle.
The detective to whom the case was assigned noted in the affidavit that he “was aware of a previously reported incident involving a similarly described white male subject …” That case was handled by the North Port Police Department, the affidavit said. It occurred on Nov. 17, the affidavit noted.
During that situation, the affidavit continued, “[T]he complainant reported that Cochara followed the complainant from a local grocery store in North Port back to her residence. Cochara engaged in a brief dialogue with the complainant about finding her attractive and wanting [her] to go on a date with him. The complainant refused Cochara’s advances,” the affidavit added, and he left that residence.
The victim in the Venice case told Sheriff’s Office personnel that the incident at her home had been “recorded on the security cameras of her Tesla, and she would be able to provide the security camera footage for [agency] retention.”
In reviewing that video footage, the affidavit continued, the detective found Cochara’s face to be “clearly visible during his approach and departure from the residence.”
Arriving in a red, 2005 Toyota, the affidavit said, Cochara parked at the end of the driveway, exited the vehicle and went to the rear of it, where he put on blue latex gloves and retrieved “a dark colored backpack from the trunk of his vehicle.” Then he approached the residence.
The video showed him proceeding to the front door, opening the door and preparing to step into the foyer, the affidavit added.
The video also showed Cochara “engaging in a short dialogue with [the victim] before returning to his vehicle and departing from the scene.”
Another woman, who had been running errands earlier with the victim, was in the front yard of the victim’s house when Cochara arrived, the affidavit pointed out; she observed him as he gained entry through the front door.
Both the witness and the victim confirmed that neither had invited Cochara to the residence, “and Cochara did not provide any reason why he came to the residence,” the affidavit said. Cochara also “did not provide any clearly articulated reason” for his coming to the residence, the affidavit noted.
A Sarasota News Leader review of 12th Judicial Circuit Court records found only two other charges against Cochara. In February 2005, he was cited for having no registration for his motor vehicle, and in May 2010, he was cited for violating a state restriction against using sunscreen material on the side windows of his vehicle.
The News Leader also learned from a review of the records maintained by Sarasota County Property Appraiser Bill Furst and his staff that Cochara had bought his Cazes Avenue home in North Port in March 2007 for $155,000 and then sold it on Nov. 24 for $100,000. The new owner formally is Cazes Holdings LLC, with a Sarasota address. The Florida Division of Corporations identifies Jennifer J. Ripo of 390 Deer Run Drive in Sarasota as the registered agent for that limited liability corporation, with Christopher C. Ripo, of the same address, named as manager of the company.
Cazes Avenue is located east of South Sumter Boulevard in North Port, a map shows.