- April 19, 2024
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The victim's car was stripped, and the business owner and an employee lied to law enforcement about doing it.
BY THE OBSERVER STAFF
AA Accurate owner, James Pascarelli, 64, along with employee Kirk Luckett, 52, were arrested Jan. 14, after stealing items from a car and lying to law enforcement about it.
After an traffic accident in December, the victim’s car was towed to and stored at Pascarelli’s business. The day after the accident, the victim went to AA Accurate to retrieve a child’s car seat from inside.
At that time, there was no damage, other than from the accident, and the car was intact. However, when the victim returned Jan. 14, she discovered 100 CDs, the speedometer cluster, stereo, speakers, mirrors and tail lights had been taken from the car.
The victim reported the incident to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, and deputies spoke with Pascarelli at the business later that day.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Pascarelli handed the deputies a bag with the CDs and told them an unknown man was seen by the back of the lot carrying the bag. Pascarelli told them Luckett had seen the man, yelled at him, and then retrieved the bag after the unknown man fled. Luckett, when questioned by deputies, gave the same story.
But deputies searched the area in the back of the lot, according to the Sheriff's Office, and didn’t find any evidence to support the story.
After further questioning Luckett, the police say he admitted to stripping the car and taking the CDs, with Pascarelli’s permission. Luckett said Pascarelli told him he could only take the items after the insurance company was done with the car.
Pascarelli denied giving Luckett permission and said that when he found out what happened, he ordered Luckett to put the items back. He said he believed that if the items were returned, it wouldn't’ be an issue
The Sheriff's Office also said Pascarelli admitted to lying to deputies.
Pascarelli and Luckett were arrested and charged with grand theft and knowingly giving false information to law enforcement officers. They were taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail, in Daytona Beach, without incident.
