Home › Collier Citizen › Citizen News
Man ordered to pay for stolen dirt
More Citizen News 
Share and Enjoy 
A trucking firm owner, who stole hundreds of truckloads of dirt from three Golden Gate Estates construction sites last year, pleaded no contest, July 9, to grand theft and was ordered to pay one property owner more than $11,000.
But Collier Circuit Judge Frank Baker gave Mehrl Stull III, 49, of 570 Platt Road, a break and released him, so he could restore two other construction sites he damaged. If Collier County code enforcement officers certify the sites are restored, the judge agreed to allow the probationary sentence in the first case to satisfy the two other cases of felony grand theft and criminal mischief.
Baker gave Stull until Aug. 19 to comply, or he’d revoke the release and toss out the plea deal.
Stull pleaded to a reduced grand theft charge, a third-degree felony, and criminal mischief totaling $1,000 or more. Baker adjudicated him guilty and sentenced him to five years of probation, which can be terminated after two-and-a-half years, once he pays Peyton Ellis $11,500. He’s to pay at least $200 monthly and can’t go near the property.
Stull faced up to 30 years on the original first-degree felony grand theft charge, but was sentenced under a plea agreement negotiated by Assistant State Attorney Denise Tyler and defense attorney David Agoston.
Stull and his son, Mehrl Stull IV, 19, who lives at the same address and works with his father, were arrested on Feb. 2, 2007, accused of stealing 200 truckloads of dirt from Ellis’ property in the 4000 block of 12th Avenue Northeast.
Collier County Sheriff’s Office reports say they dug large holes and removed about 200 truckloads of dirt and all the trees in less than two months. Reports say some holes were then covered with rocks and a thin layer of dirt. Six days later, the father-son team was arrested again, charged with taking another 100 truckloads of dirt from a 5.67-acre lot on 25th Street Southwest and from a lot in the 1400 block of 23rd Street Southwest. Reports valued a truckload of dirt at $300.
The State Attorney’s Office dropped charges against the son in December.
Comments
This site does not necessarily agree with comments posted below. Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. Break our rules, and we will ban you. No exceptions, no second chances. Read our privacy policy & user agreement.
Post your comment
(Requires free registration.)