The Manatee County Sheriff's Office wants help finding Dominic Hanselman, who is wanted on charges of aggravated stalking and burglary to an occupied dwelling. The agency posted his name and charges as part of its weekly Warrant Wednesday bulletin, though it did not release details about when or where the alleged crimes occurred, who the victim is, or whether the two charges stem from the same incident.
The notice appeared on the Manatee County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page under the hashtag #WANTED, following the same weekly format the agency uses to broadcast fugitive information to the public. Anyone with information on Hanselman's whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 941-747-3011, or to reach CrimeStoppers of Manatee County anonymously at 1-866-634-TIPS.
What the Charges Could Mean in Court
Burglary to an occupied dwelling, the more serious of the two charges Hanselman faces, is classified under Florida Statute § 810.02(3)(a) as a second-degree felony when committed without assault or a dangerous weapon, according to Galanter Law. A conviction carries up to 15 years in state prison, 15 years of probation, and a fine of as much as $10,000. Under the state's Criminal Punishment Code, the offense is ranked as a Level 7 severity crime, which carries a non-binding minimum guideline sentence of 21 months in prison absent mitigating circumstances, per Sercombe Law.
The heightened charge reflects how Florida law treats break-ins where someone is home. Florida Statute § 810.011 defines a dwelling broadly, covering any structure or conveyance designed for lodging, including attached covered porches, and elevates burglary charges when an occupant is present because of the increased danger of confrontation, according to The AP Law Group.
The aggravated stalking charge carries its own significant exposure. Florida Statute § 784.048(3) classifies aggravated stalking as a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in state prison, 5 years of probation, and a $5,000 fine, per Roger P. Foley, P.A. To secure a conviction, prosecutors must prove a suspect willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly harassed or cyberstalked a victim while issuing a verbal or non-verbal threat that instilled a reasonable fear of bodily injury or death, the same source notes.
How the Reward System Works
Community members who help crack the case could see a payout. Crime Stoppers of Manatee County offers anonymous informants cash rewards of up to $3,000 for tips that lead to the execution of a warrant or arrest in felony cases, according to the Bradenton Police Department's Facebook page. There's a catch for anyone hoping to collect: tipsters must submit their information directly to Crime Stoppers before contacting law enforcement agencies in order to remain eligible for the reward.
The Sheriff's Office has leaned on this weekly format, known as Warrant Wednesday, for some time now, using it to broadcast fugitive information and lean on public tips to close cases. Hoodline has previously reported on the initiative, including in coverage of a motor vehicle theft warrant and a separate appeal for a suspect wanted on felony aggravated stalking charges. Local law enforcement credits the campaign with prompting the kind of tips that lead directly to felony arrests.
That pattern played out again in August, when public tips generated through the Sheriff's Office's social media spotlight helped deputies locate and arrest attempted felony murder suspect Quazone Elijawun Taylor, according to the agency's Facebook page. It's a recent example the department points to as evidence its outreach strategy works.
The push to find Hanselman comes even as the county's overall crime rate has been trending downward. Manatee County recorded an overall crime decrease of nearly 20 percent in recent annual reporting, despite continued public law enforcement operations targeting violent and felony offenders. As with all warrant notices, the charges against Hanselman remain unproven allegations unless and until they are adjudicated in court.
