Mitzie Dawn Driggers, 38, was found guilty as charged with Grand Theft and Burglary of a Dwelling following a one day trial in Glades County. She is one of three defendants who burglarized a home.
In September 2016 Driggers and two others, James Cine and Hereencks Courage, were involved in a burglary on the Brighton Reservation. Shortly before the crime, Driggers, a former friend of the victim, called and asked if he was home. He told her he was out of town and about thirty minutes later the burglary occurred.
Driggers was the getaway driver. Cine and Hereencks, both from Palm Beach County, entered the home. As they were carrying items out of the residence, the teenage son of the victim happened to be coming home from school. He watched as the two men loaded things into a Jeep. Some items were covered in blankets. At first he thought these were friends of his father but then heard them talk about a safe in the house. When he realized they were being robbed, the teenager managed to get pictures of the vehicle and left to call police. Driggers urged the men to hurry because the house had an alarm.
The Seminole Police Department used the pictures to put out a BOLO (be on the lookout) in Glades County and Okeechobee County for the Jeep. A short time later the Glades County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle and performed a traffic stop. Driggers was driving the car when police pulled them over. The witness identified all of the defendants at the traffic stop and the stolen items were found in the vehicle. The defendants stole more than one thousand dollars worth of items from the home including jewelry and electronics.
Driggers faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set for June 25th.
Courage pled guilty to Grand Theft, Burglary of a Dwelling and Possession of Marijuana and received 18 months in prison followed by 18 months of probation. Cine pled guilty to Grand Left and Burglary of a Dwelling and received one year and one day in prison.
Assistant State Attorney William Dorman III handled the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125