The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office wants help finding Dominic Hanselman, who is wanted on charges of aggravated stalking and burglary to an occupied dwelling. The agency posted his name and charges as part of its weekly Warrant Wednesday bulletin, though it did not release details about when or where the alleged crimes occurred, who the victim is, or whether the two charges stem from the same incident.
The notice appeared on the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page under the hashtag #WANTED, following the same weekly format the agency uses to broadcast fugitive information to the public. Anyone with information on Hanselman’s whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011, or to reach CrimeStoppers of Manatee County anonymously at 1-866-634-TIPS.
What the Charges Could Mean in Court
Burglary to an occupied dwelling, the more serious of the two charges Hanselman faces, is classified under Florida Statute § 810.02(3)(a) as a second-degree felony when committed without assault or a dangerous weapon, according to Galanter Law. A conviction carries up to 15 years in state prison, 15 years of probation, and a fine of as much as $10,000. Under the state’s Criminal Punishment Code, the offense is ranked as a Level 7 severity crime, which carries a non-binding minimum guideline sentence of 21 months in prison absent mitigating circumstances, per Sercombe Law.
The heightened charge reflects how Florida law treats break-ins where someone is home. Florida Statute § 810.011 defines a dwelling broadly, covering any structure or conveyance designed for lodging, including attached covered porches, and elevates burglary charges when an occupant is present because of the increased danger of confrontation, according to The AP Law Group…