Drug Addiction at Center of Debate Over Young Man's Future

Gulfport resident John Balogh Sr. says his son's addiction has gone too far.

"We were in denial of the extent of his addiction. We had no idea it was this severe," Balogh Sr. said.

John Balogh Jr., 21, known as Jack, is in Pinellas County Jail on 15 felony changes of grand theft, dealing in stolen property and fraud after he admitted to stealing from Gulfport resident Janet Schaffer. 

Balogh thinks Jack should pay for his offenses, but he fears that his son will be put away for a long time because he said Schaffer, an attorney, has told him she wants Jack to serve 15 to 20 years for these charges.

"He's sorry for what he did. He wants help, but if he's sentenced to 15 years, I'm going to be 85 before I can even see him," Balogh Sr. said. "He needs treatment, but he can't get any of that in jail."

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On Aug. 5, Schaffer said, she came home after spending the day with friends and family at the beach. That day was supposed to be the beginning of a family celebration for Schaffer's oldest daughter, who was to receive her master's degree in education the following day.

When Schaffer went to grab her things and head out for the night, she saw two decorative glass bottles out of place on her dresser. That's when she noticed that several pieces of jewelry were missing.

Later that night, Schaffer noticed that sterling silverware in her kitchen was also missing.

She said she didn't think the theft was random.

Jack had access to Schaffer's home for several days to help with yard work and other chores. Schaffer, who did legal work for Jack, said that she allowed him to help around the house in exchange for her legal services.

Schaffer was friends with Balogh Sr. and helped when he said Jack was in legal trouble.

“He had been stealing from me the whole time, the entire time, a young man who I had helped, who had hugged me,” Schaffer said.

Schaffer said she feels not only victimized, but also unsafe in her own home.

"I still believe in the goodness of people, and I keep getting kicked in the teeth," Schaffer said.

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According to a report from the Gulfport Police Department, Schaffer called Balogh Sr. as soon as she discovered the items were missing and that Balogh Sr. and Jack came over. When Schaffer confronted Jack, the police report says, he cried and admitted to taking two necklaces and a gold pin. He said he "was using drugs and that's why he stole the items," the report states.

Schaffer thought Jack took more items than he admitted. Jack said that he brought his friend Heather over during the day and that she could have taken the other items, the report states. Jack did not know her last name, but said he knew her from a church youth group in Gulfport.

Gulfport Police Officer Zachary Mills located a Heather Anderson, according to the report, who has no criminal history or any history of being in contact with the Gulfport Police Department. Also, the church has no record of Jack attending in the past, police said.

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Schaffer is searching for her missing heirlooms. So far, she says, she has located her father's gold wedding ring and some items passed down from her mother at Cash America Pawn. 

Mills' investigation uncovered 50 pawn transactions Jack has taken part in since the beginning of the year.

Schaffer is concerned about a Florida law that states a pawn broker must wait 30 days before selling items. She thinks some local pawn shops do not obey that law and sell items before the waiting period.

According to police reports, Jack sold a 14-karat gold herringbone chain necklace to Shalimar Jewelers on July 23. Schaffer says it it has since been melted down. 

"I said, 'You melted it? You have all these things for sale. Why did you melt it?'," Schaffer said.

Schaffer urges those who think they have been victimized to reach out before it's too late to recover stolen items.

According to attorney Charles Gallagher III, pawn shops may not immediately offer items for sale, "so that the prior owner and law enforcement has some window to search out property stolen from them."

"Pawn brokers are required to undertake measures that don’t facilitate the sale of stolen property,” Gallagher said, referring to The Florida Pawnbroking Act (Florida Statute 539.001).

Schaffer is still searching for her sterling silverware, which is valued at more than $5,000.

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Balogh Sr. wants to find a way to help his son get his life back on track. 

"We have to believe that only good is going to come out of this. We are faith-based, and we believe that if you can change your mind, you can change," he said.

He apologizes for his son's actions. "I understand the anguish that she's going through ... but he needs help. He needs to get better; he needs treatment."

Balogh Sr. thinks his son deserves a second chance, an opportunity to seek help. "He’s wonderful with children, he’s wonderful with helping the elderly, very polite and respectful."