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Arrests made in Hernando County middle school burglary

Nineteen laptops were stolen during a burglary at Powell Middle School in Spring Hill.
Photo: Hernando County Sheriff's Office

SPRING HILL, Fla. -- Hernando County Sheriff's deputies have made two arrests following a July 7 burglary at Powell Middle School.

During the burglary, 19 laptops -- valued at $9,500 -- were stolen from various classrooms. Later that morning, people traveling along the Suncoast Parkway bike trail found 14 of the stolen laptops.

Deputies say video surveillance obtained by investigators shows there were two suspects, identified as Justin Hopkins, 21, and Brendon Pestana, 22.

Pestana was arrested, and deputies said he admitted to the burglary and led them to his bedroom where the five remaining laptops were located. The laptops will be returned to the school once the investigation is completed.

When deputies attempted to arrest Hopkins, he ran away. Deputies used a K-9 team to find Hopkins and arrest him. He later admitted to the burglary as well, investigators said.

Both Hopkins and Pestana were charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure with a $5,000 bond for each.

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