Vandal of 30 Neighborhood Cars Gets Plea Deal

Ramsey Sheard, 22, who faced 30 charges in connection with a disturbing vandalism spree in his Palm Harbor neighborhood in June of 2011, is now serving time in a state prison, after his attorney made a plea deal with prosecutors. Sheard pleaded guilty to all 30 charges and was sentenced to 13.2 months in prison with credit for time served.   

Pinellas County Circuit Court Judge Thane Covert approved the plea deal on June 22, more than a year after dozens of residents in the Deer Run subdivision awakened to find their cars had been vandalized. One car was set on fire, paint was splashed on two others, and tires were slashed on dozens of other vehicles in the complex. 

Deputies arrested Sheard the afternoon of June 6, 2011. The attacks had occurred early that morning. Investigators say a trail of paint led them to Sheard's garage. When deputies interviewed Sheard, they say the same paint was on his clothing.

Prosecutors told Judge Covert that Sheard took 20 Xanax pills and drank alcohol before he committed the attacks.

"He had never been in trouble before, prior to this incident. No problems with law enforcement at all. But, on this night, he decided that he would drink and take these drugs and went on a rampage throughout his neighborhood. There are 30 victims, and basically, your honor, he went through the neighborhood and slashed the tires of 30 of his neighbor's vehicles."

Defense attorney Steve Bartlett explained what caused Sheard to go on the crime spree.

"He got dumped by his girlfriend. He didn't go cut off his ear, he decides to vandalize 30 people's cars for no reason at all. You know, that's just stupid, it's also rude. If he's got problems, he needs to work it out himself. Don't take it out on innocent people," he said.

Judge Covert approved the sentence with a stern warning for Sheard. 

"It is clear to me that you have some serious problems and they are substance abuse problems…You have to get help for your problems and deal with those. Just because you have an emotional event of some sort in your life, which will happen throughout your life, responding in such an unlawful and such a terrible manner is going to cause you nothing but pain, and heartache for you and those people around you, which makes the situation worse," he said.

Bartlett told the judge that Sheard plans to see a psychologist and participate in Alcoholics Anonymous after his release, in addition to apologizing to the victims.

"You owe a lot more than an apology to these victims. They didn't do anything wrong. They were minding their own business. For whatever reason, you decided to take out your frustrations on 30 different people," Judge Covert told Sheard, who remained quiet throughout the hearing.

As Sheard's parents sat in the courtroom, the judge told the young man that he is lucky to have their support. He encouraged Sheard to "humble himself" and ask for help.

After the hearing, Sheard's mother, Dawn, told Palm Harbor Patch how thankful she was to have such understanding neighbors.

"Our neighbors have been nothing but gracious and good to us. The neighbors have been fantastic to us. I couldn't have had better neighbors in my life," she said.

Sheard was also ordered to pay a total of $12,644 in restitution to the victims.

Related Links-

• 6/6/2011 Ramsey Sheard Booking Photo 
• 1/11/2012 Ramsey Sheard Jail Booking Photo & Final List of Charges