March 9, 2005
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

DELAND AREA BURGLARY STREAK ENDS WITH ARREST AND RECOVERED PROPERTY 

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office arrested one man and has warrants for two others believed to be responsible for a string of home burglaries in the DeLand area. The men are currently charged with breaking into three homes, but the continuing investigation could link them to as many as 14 more in the county area and four more within the city of DeLand. 

The crime spree began in December. As the investigation into the burglaries proceeded, neighbors were able to describe a suspicious vehicle and three black men near some of the victims’ homes. Based on the descriptions, a suspect vehicle was identified and investigators from the Sheriff’s Office and the DeLand Police Department conducted a joint surveillance operation. Matthews Sessoms, 18, was arrested Wednesday as a result on unrelated narcotics charges and then interviewed. He admitted to his involvement in the burglaries and a search warrant was executed at his home at 1249 Greenland Terrace, DeLand. Found inside were stolen computers, lawn equipment, hand tools and power tools. 

Further investigation revealed two accomplices: Jarvis Carr, 26, and Levon Cooper, 19. A search warrant was executed at Carr’s home at 712 W. New York Ave., DeLand where among the stolen items recovered were: DVD movies, DVD player, several coin collections, computers and accessories, power tools, speakers, amplifiers and lawn equipment. 

All three are currently charged with three counts of residential burglary associated with break-ins at homes on Krinklewood Drive, Torchwood Drive and Third Avenue, with the possibility of more charges forthcoming. Sessoms was also charged with cocaine trafficking, having had approximately 70 grams of crack cocaine in his possession. 

Sessoms was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach. Arrest warrants have been issued for Cooper and Carr. Cooper is 5’8” tall and weighs about 130 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and lives at 442 S. Hill St., DeLand. Carr is 5’9” tall and weighs about 135 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. 

Anyone with information about Carr’s or Cooper’s whereabouts are asked to contact investigator Kim Partington at 943-7866 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida toll-free at 1-888-277-TIPS. Callers to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.