HOLIDAY, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of breaking into a family’s home and then standing in the doorway of a sleeping girl’s room for several minutes, authorities said.
Thomas Martin Marnets, 52, of Longwood, was arrested Thursday and charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling, according to Pasco County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.
Marnets’ bail was raised from $10,000 to $100,000 after his court appearance on Friday, WFLA reported.
Bond set for man accused of breaking into Pasco Co. child's room | @WFLAChip reports https://t.co/MQZDRHXvro pic.twitter.com/17ENujwf5t
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) October 15, 2021
According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Marnets broke into a home in Holiday and walked into the girl’s bedroom, the television station reported. Video surveillance showed Marnets walking out of the room with his hands in his pants before he fled the home, the television station reported.
According to surveillance video, Marnets broke through the home’s garage door and then broke through a lock to enter the home, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
“He is captured with his hands inside of the front of his shorts,” an arrest report states.
According to deputies, Marnets returned to the doorway, but the family’s dog woke the child and Marnets fled, the arrest report stated.
Deputies said Marnets was arrested after they posted the video on Facebook and received tips, according to the newspaper. The sheriff’s office said “multiple” people identified Marnets, including his employer and sister, WTVT reported.
According to court records, Marnets was arrested nine times in Seminole County on charges that included robbery, burglary and battery, WFLA reported.
Deputies say there was no evidence that Marnets knew the victims, WTVT reported.
Jacquline Eisinga, the child’s mother, said the experience was unsettling.
“It’s like a total emotional rollercoaster. It’s up and down. It’s glad that he’s caught but scared,” Eisinga told WFLA. “Why was he on the street to begin with?”
The girl’s stepfather, Daniel Roles, said he was troubled and worried.
“He broke in and creeped over her this time, but what’s next time,” Roles told WFLA. “Does he snatch her next time? What happens next time?”
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