Sanford Police are asking the public to help track down a 33-year-old man wanted on an outstanding warrant tied to a felony evidence tampering case. Kristofer Emmett Yoder is described as 6 feet 3 inches tall and 210 pounds, and investigators say he failed to appear in court on charges connected to tampering with evidence.
The warrant, publicized Friday as part of the department's recurring “Find 'Em Friday” campaign, lists Yoder as wanted for failure to appear for tampering with evidence, according to the Sanford Police Department. The bulletin also lists possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license among the charges tied to Yoder's case. The department has not released details about the underlying incident that led to the original tampering and paraphernalia charges, or the specific court date Yoder is accused of missing.
What the Charges Could Mean Legally
Under Florida law, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence is classified as a third-degree felony, carrying a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine, per the Florida Senate's statutes. Separately, a defendant released on bail who willfully fails to appear in court commits a third-degree felony if the underlying charge is a felony, or a first-degree misdemeanor if it is not, according to the same statutory framework.
The drug paraphernalia charge against Yoder is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida, punishable by up to a year in county jail, a year of probation, and a $1,000 fine. Driving with a suspended or revoked license while knowing it is suspended is typically a second-degree misdemeanor for a first offense, carrying up to 60 days in jail, though the penalty escalates for repeat convictions. Legal experts note that when a defendant misses a scheduled court date, judges routinely issue bench warrants or alias capias orders that often carry no-bond status, requiring detention until the person appears before a judge, according to the Law Office of Ashley Aulls.
How the Public Can Help
Anyone with information on Yoder's whereabouts is asked to call the Sanford Police Department at 407-688-5199 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Central Florida's Crimeline program allows anonymous tips and offers cash rewards of up to $1,000 or more for information leading to a felony arrest or warrant execution, according to the Apopka Police Department. Sanford Police bulletins also remind residents not to approach individuals with outstanding warrants directly, urging them instead to contact non-emergency dispatch at 407-665-6650 or emergency lines immediately if they spot a wanted person.
The “Find 'Em Friday” bulletin is a recurring feature the department uses to publish suspect photos, physical descriptions, and warrant information in hopes of enlisting public help, a tactic Hoodline has previously reported on. Earlier this month, Sanford Police used the same kind of public appeal after fragrance testers were stolen from an Ulta store, and the department has also leaned on Crimeline tips in its investigation into a fatal MLK hit-and-run involving a city dump truck driver.
As with any active warrant, Yoder's case remains an open law enforcement request for information rather than a finished legal matter. Failure-to-appear warrants can complicate a defendant's standing in the judicial process, but the underlying facts of the original tampering and paraphernalia allegations against Yoder have not been detailed publicly.
