A Leesburg man is behind bars after being accused of stealing a $45,000 boat.
Christian Phillip Jones, 27, was arrested Tuesday and is being held in the Lake County Jail. He is accused of taking a 28-foot Hydra-Sport boat from a residence off of County Road 452 in Lake County on May 4.
Almost immediately after the theft, the family posted a photo of the boat on social media asking for help. Tips began to pour in about an overloaded vehicle that was towing the described boat in the area.
As the tips continued, Lake County sheriff’s detectives were able to determine the location of the stolen vessel. They soon recovered it for the victim and after an in-depth investigation, determined that Jones was the suspect in the theft.
Detectives say after taking the boat, Jones sold it to give him the money to bail his girlfriend out of jail. He was located this past Tuesday, placed under arrest and transported to the Lake County Jail.
Jones, who lives at 35416 Lake Bradley Drive in Leesburg, was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle and dealing in stolen property. He is being held on $10,000 bond and is due in court June 8 at 8:30 a.m. to answer to the charges.