Man sentenced for theft of motorcycle

PANAMA CITY — A Panama City Beach man who took a motorcycle he found parked along Front Beach Road was sentenced Thursday to more than a year in prison.

James Lee Rushing, 34, pleaded no contest to several charges of theft and dealing in stolen items and was sentenced to one year and six months in a correctional facility.

The motorcycle was taken when its owner, Bladimil Sanchez, was arrested in late August 2013 for several traffic violations. He requested authorities not tow the motorcycle.

But after being released from Bay County Jail, Sanchez returned to Front Beach Road, where he had left his 2004 Suzuki motorcycle, and discovered it was gone. He called Beach police to ask if the motorcycle, valued by police at about $5,000, had been towed. PCBPD hadn’t towed it.

About a week later, Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigators found Rushing at his Chelsea Drive home. During a consensual search of an outdoor shed, Rushing said he had a motorcycle he “found” on the side of the road. He said he was holding it for “safe-keeping,” and its VIN numbers came up as the missing bike.

Investigators were at the house to begin with because three stolen bicycles reportedly had been seen at the address. Rushing said another man brought him the bicycles and he believed they were stolen, so he gave investigators permission to look around further. They not only found the motorcycle, but also found a Husqvarna riding lawn mower, a red push mower and a leaf blower — all of which had been reported stolen.

Rushing later told officers he saw the motorcycle on the side of the road and loaded it onto the back of a truck. He also admitted to damaging the ignition and steering column in attempt to drive it and get a second key made.

Rushing was sentenced Thursday to more than year in prison, a majority of which he already has served.