Joseph Perugia, a convicted felon, has a lengthening history of arrests, and repeat arrests on weapons charges. His latest was on Sunday, when he threatened his girlfriend that he was “gonna kill you” and “gonna blast you through the door.”
Perugia, a 56-year-old resident of 19 Sanchez Avenue in the Hammock, had returned home after spending much of the day drinking with a friend, according to his arrest report. His girlfriend, Annie Lynch, and his roommate, Reid Massucci, told police he became belligerent and confrontational. Lynch tried to get away from him after Perugia “made threats of violence toward her with his Taurus .357 Magnum revolver,” the report states.
The gun, police found, had been loaded with six rounds. The witnesses did not provide written statements to deputies, who concluded that the gun had been “in constructive possession” of Perugia. He was arrested, taken to Florida Hospital Flagler for clearance, then booked at the Flagler County jail.
Despite his long record of arrests, Perugia has been found guilty only once on any of the many charges he’s faced.
In 2013 he was found guilty of improperly exhibiting a weapon, a first-degree misdemeanor, in a deal that included dropping a felony child abuse charge and reducing the weapons charge from a felony aggravated assault charge. Last year he was again charged with two counts of discharging a gun in public and using a weapon under the influence of alcohol. The charges were dropped. In 2008 he faced a domestic battery charge. It was dropped. In 2003 he faced a felony aggravated battery charge. It was first transferred to county court and reduced to simple battery, then dropped. In 2002 he was charged with obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct. Both charges were dropped. Same stories in 1997 and 1998: battery charges. Charges dropped.
anonymous says
Must be judge me lisa Moore stens. I watch all ppl go in and out of her court with reduced or dropped charges. Typically what seems to be happening in this revolving door.
Steve Robinson says
We grieve, quite appropriately, for the 49 people murdered in Orlando this past weekend. Meanwhile, according to the Gun Violence Archive, 13,286 people were killed in the US by firearms in 2015. That’s just over 36 a day, every day of the year. So, we essentially have an Orlando, or a Newtown or a Columbine in this country day in and day out. Does it matter that it doesn’t always happen in one place? Meanwhile, people like the subject of this news story are treated as if brandishing a gun were no more serious than a parking ticket. This country’s obsession with firearms, and the kid-gloves treatment meted out to firearm offenders, is deeply, deeply sick.
Anonymous says
So I guess when he kills someone they will put him in jail!!!!!
Wtf is wrong possession of a fire arm by a convicted felony isn’t that mandatory time!?
FlaglerLive says
Anonymous, we’re approving your erroneous comment only because it reflects an ongoing misconception. First, all the felony charges against this particular individual started in criminal court, not in county court, though several ended up in county court, most of them before Moore-Stens became a judge, where most were dismissed. Second, a judge has nothing to do with dismissing charges in any of these cases. It’s the decision of the State Attorney’s office, which ultimately decides not to pursue them.
Outsider says
And therein lies the problem; the existing laws are not enforced. What good will more laws do if they are unwilling to enforce the current ones? I’m
Nancy N. says
Anonymous – having only been found guilty previously of a misdemeanor, this guy wasn’t a convicted felon. Ergo it was completely legal for him to own a gun despite his long record of arrests.
Mark says
Nancy, the story states he is a convicted felon.
Anonymous says
Hopefully, that will change now.
Common Sense says
A tragedy waiting to happen. And people say we don’t need gun control laws?
Can anyone really say that this is what the 2nd Amendment was meant for?
Linkedout says
I wonder; what is Perugia’s link to Justin Boyles, Danny Massey, Cheryl Leggett, Antoinette Heart, and Edward “Scott” Mullener? Mullener’s murder happened at 19 Sanchez Ave., the residence of Heart at the time (2013). I think the property is a rental, so there’s probably no association between Perugia and the Mullnener murder. The rental agency should improve their screening tenants.
https://flaglerlive.com/56464/scott-mullener-murder-investigation/
michael murphy says
Our system of Justice,Cops Arrest Judges Let them go.I can only guess overcrowding in Jails.If that’s the Case build more Jails.