As fugitives go, James Christopher Raposa is not the sort of guy who’s likely to keep you up nights. But Sheriff Rick Staly played a role in his original arrest last August and again in his re-arrest on a fugitive warrant earlier this week, and is crediting his weekly video feature highlighting fugitives his sheriffs are seeking for success in such apprehensions.
Raposa was sentenced to six months’ probation in August following a guilty plea on an impaired driving charge. The 21-year-old resident of Press Way in Palm Coast was arrested last May–by Staly. It was a Friday evening, when the sheriff customarily conducts his weekly patrols. Staly reported to a deputy that Raposa had taken off from a traffic light and been clocked going 72 in a 50 on State Road 100.
Paula Priester, the deputy who took over the investigation, immediately smelled alcohol and pot in Raposa’s surroundings, according to her arrest report. He himself (as did his two passengers) said he’d smoked some pot but not had anything to drink that day. He looked unsteady on his feet and failed the several steps of the field-sobriety exercises. Two breathalizer tests proved him right: they tested zero both times. But that particular test doesn’t measure impairment from pot.
He was charged with DUI alcohol or drugs, pot possession and operating a vehicle without a driver’s license he could show Priester. The latter two charges were dropped. He was sentenced on the DUI charge.
All went relatively well for four months, with the probation term set to expire last Feb. 3. But two months before his probation was up, a probation report found him in violation of most of the conditions of his release. He’d not obtained a substance abuse evaluation, hadn’t completed an alcohol-safety education course or completed the victim awareness program, hadn’t performed his required 50 hours of community service, twice failed to report to his probation officer, failed to pay his court-mandated fees, and failed a urine test, which showed he’d continued to smoke pot.
Probation conditions are tough and very burdensome, but probation officers don’t like sending their wards back to jail. They try to work with probationers–except when the violations begin to pile up and show more disregard than compliance. So on Dec. 20, Raposa’s probation officer filed the violation report.
On Dec. 27, County Judge Melissa Moore-Stens issued a warrant for Raposa’s re-arrest. It’s not clear to what extent the Sheriff’s Office tried to find him, but on March 2, Staly featured Raposa on his weekly “Fugitive Friday Bingo,” a video feature he posts to the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page. The feature is also posted on the Sheriff’s web page, which CrimeStopper links to from advertising on sites that include FlaglerLive.
Eight days after Raposa was featured on that edition of Fugitive Friday, someone called in a tip that Raposa was at 86 Ulaturn Trail in Palm Coast. The call was rapid, and the caller cut it off immediately after calling in the tip. Dispatchers looked up Raposa in a database, found his active warrant, and dispatched deputies. Raposa himself opened the door. He was arrested.
On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office played up the arrest in a press release, without mentioning Staly’s role in Raposa’s initial arrest.
“The video series is working,” Staly was quoted as saying. “Our Fugitive Unit does a great job tracking down these offenders but no one knows where they are better than family members or friends. In this case, we tracked him faster thanks to the help of our community. Now he is off the streets and in jail where he belongs.”
Since the video feature’s inception in November 2017 (just weeks after the CrimeStopper ads on this site started linking to the videos), nearly 45 percent of the featured fugitives have been apprehended.
Anonymous says
” Raposa had taken off from a traffic light and been clocked going 72 in a 50 on State Road 100.~ . He looked unsteady on his feet and failed the several steps of the field-sobriety exercises.”
BUT its ONLY pot………..some will say
Rick Kang says
Jim, now is time to get your life In order! Life is too short to waste in JAIL!
Linze says
Hope he learns his lesson and cleans up his dope habit
Before he kills someone
Pogo says
@What world did this come from
I would love to know the basis for this:
“…Probation conditions are tough and very burdensome, but probation officers don’t like sending their wards back to jail. They try to work with probationers–except when the violations begin to pile up and show more disregard than compliance…”
If POs, teachers, public defenders, prosecutors and a host of others who live in the world of case management, and case loads, had 24 hours to do what they’re supposed to get done in 8 – they would still never keep up. It’s amazing that things work as well as they do. Nobody should ever be surprised when the toilet overflows.
Really says
@pogo then maybe they should find another line of work. I wouldnt want to babysit a 20 something “Coaster” slacker either. 6 mo.s probation isnt all that difficult to do in order to release onesself of that system. Its about common sense lol good luck kid
Really says
@anon I agree some of the strains are powerful. Ya dont need to drive around blown out
Concerned Citizen says
Probation is a second chance to keep first time offenders from going to prison. Once you violate your terms you should loose that chance and serve your sentence. Especially in the case of repeat violations.
Don’t want to be on probation? Don’t break the law.
Born and Raised Here says
Why do these young offenders take their probation as a joke ? Perhaps they should start paying a fine for every uncompleted task required by their probation
Carmen Delgado says
As a former Psychiatric Nurse I am here to tell you that most of these kids are not bad kids.The last thing
they need is Jail. Yes they need help. Mental Health.
Vincent Reeves says
Kudos to Sheriff Staly and the FCSD! We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated law enforcement agency serving our community. We love you!
Donnie Riddle says
I know a lot of people that play bingo and don’t win, at least he was unlucky enough to win !
Richard says
Ask yourself why is it that these law breaking offenders think that they can get away with breaking the law? Because the entire justice system is a joke and a cesspool. It needs to be cleaned up just like our federal, state and local governments need to have happen. Then just maybe the law breakers will absolutely know beyond any reasonable doubt that they need to follow and obey the laws otherwise the flip side is NOT a pretty picture.
Concerned res says
Lock up this thug!
Trailer Bob says
You want to smoke pot, fine, but most mature people do so at home or do not get wasted then drive. Could make a deadly mistake just as easily as a drunk driver…
Get a buzz dude, not get wasted then subject others to danger from your lack of ability to drive high.
There is just no fear of consequences of ones actions anymore. IF you cannot handle it and control your actions, then don’t puff morons.
John dolan esq. says
I think you are right. This lock um up mentality is outrageous. We need more doctors and mental health facilities not jails.
Geezer says
Notice the red-eye effect from the photo flash. Also, notice that
this isn’t the norm. His pupils were dilated from drug use when the
picture was taken.
This kid needs a thorough psychological evaluation. When you
need to be numb all the time, there is often a trauma or a situation
eating at you that seems hopeless.
I wish him well. I agree fully with @Carmen Delgado.