The landscaper nicknamed the Red-Button Thief this past summer after his arrest for damaging entry gates in The Villages, has been sentenced in the case.
Jaramie E. Amidei, 28, of Belleview, had been arrested in July on charges of grand theft, criminal mischief and criminal damage to property.
Amidei distinguished himself by approaching gates in The Villages, pushing the red button to gain entry and then twisting off the red button. He would then toss the button into his vehicle.
The red buttons are each worth $100. However, in each instance, the entire card reader had to be replaced, costing the District $250 apiece.
Amidei was apparently unaware of the fact that cameras were capturing his license plate when he went through each gate. He damaged gates located in Sumter and Marion counties and the cases were ultimately consolidated and prosecuted in Marion County Court.
In December in Marion County Court, Amidei was sentenced to one year’s probation and two days in jail. He was also ordered to pay $919 in restitution to the District Office.
In 2011, Amidei had faced a charge of grand theft and was placed on one year’s probation and ordered to serve nine months in the Marion County Jail. However, his attorney later sought to mitigate Amidei’s sentence, citing the fact that his disabled mother needed his financial support and his first child was about to be born. The judge denied the request.
