Donnovan Russell Jester may have plenty of time to study up on his boathandling skills in the days ahead.
Jester, 28, from Largo, Florida, was just arrested and charged with stealing a 46-foot Jeanneau cruiser from its slip in St. Petersburg three months ago. He then hit four channel marker pilings before he abandoned it. He now faces up to 30 years in jail.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s office says that Jester stole the boat from its slip at Thunder Marine at 2:15 a.m. on Friday, March 20. After he hit the pilings and abandoned the boat, it drifted into a nearby oyster bed, where deputies found it.
The Tampa Bay Times says deputies identified Jester from a left thumbprint on a cabin door. When he was arrested, at first he denied the charges; he later admitted that he had taken the boat. He is now charged with grand theft vessel.
The 2019 Jeanneau is valued at $899,179. Authorities say that Jester caused $60,000 worth of damage. Read more:
