A Lake Mary man is now a convicted burglar after prosecutors say he used a pickup truck as a battering ram on a neighborhood jewelry store, crashing straight through the storefront before heading inside. The late-night break-in was caught on surveillance video and left the front glass in pieces, authorities say, with not a single item missing. Sentencing is scheduled for May 2026.
Seminole County: Guilty verdict and possible prison time
Seminole County officials say Lenell Barnes was found guilty of burglary for intentionally ramming his pickup into Casa Leon Jewelers, according to WFTV. Prosecutors told the station Barnes now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years when he appears for sentencing in May 2026.
How the break-in unfolded
Security footage from May 2024 shows a white pickup backing into the front of the store, blasting through the entryway. A man then steps out carrying a sledgehammer and a duffel bag, walks into the wrecked showroom, and quickly discovers the display cases are empty, according to local coverage. Store owner Rene Barrios told WESH that staff routinely move the jewelry into safes overnight, leaving nothing on the showroom floor for would-be thieves to grab.
Police pursuit and arrest…