A Hudson man is wanted on felony charges after deputies say he stole a motorbike off a residential street in March and then tried to sell it on an online marketplace more than two weeks later. The Pasco Sheriff's Office has identified the suspect as Christopher Bostic and is asking the public for help locating him.
According to the Pasco Sheriff's Office, Bostic stole the motorbike at approximately 4:55 p.m. on March 10 in the 3400 block of Rome Drive in Hudson. Seventeen days later, on March 27, he allegedly attempted to sell the same motorbike on an online marketplace, according to the same post. The sheriff's office says the case has been logged under two case numbers, 26011532 and 26024426, and that Bostic is sought on charges of vehicle theft and dealing in stolen property.
Those two allegations carry very different weight under Florida law. Grand theft auto is charged as a third-degree felony regardless of a vehicle's value, punishable by up to five years in prison, per Florida Statute § 812.014(2)(c)6. Dealing in stolen property — which covers attempting to traffic or resell stolen goods, including through an online marketplace — is a more serious second-degree felony under Florida Statute § 812.019, carrying up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
How the Dual Charges Work in Court
Florida law allows prosecutors to charge a defendant with both theft and dealing in stolen property for the same item, but state statute sets a limit on how far that can go. Under Florida Statute § 812.025, a trier of fact may return a guilty verdict on only one of the two charges in a final judgment, even when both are filed. That procedural boundary means the theft and resale allegations against Bostic, while both pending, cannot both stand as convictions for the same motorbike.
It is worth noting that Bostic has not been convicted of anything — he remains sought on these allegations, and the charges are accusations that would need to be proven in court. The sheriff's office has not indicated whether the motorbike itself has been recovered.
A Persistent Problem for Florida Riders
The Hudson case fits into a much larger pattern across the state. Florida ranked second in the nation for motorcycle thefts in 2022, with 4,563 reported cases trailing only California, according to National Insurance Crime Bureau data. Nationally, motorcycle thefts totaled 54,736 that year after three straight years of increases, and law enforcement recovered only about 40% of stolen bikes.
The attempted resale also echoes a broader concern law enforcement agencies across Florida have raised about online marketplaces becoming outlets for stolen property. Multiple agencies, including the Coral Springs Police Department, maintain designated Safe Exchange Zones at police facilities to help residents avoid theft and fraud when buying or selling items online.
How to Report Information
The Pasco Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about Bostic's whereabouts to call the crime tips line at 1-800-706-2488. The agency has noted that its main lines are not monitored around the clock, and it advises anyone with an emergency to call 911 instead. Residents can also reach the sheriff's office for non-emergency reports at (727) 847-8102, or submit anonymous tips through its online form or Tampa Bay CrimeStoppers.
