The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help finding Celestino Gonzalez Jr., 38, who is wanted on a trio of domestic violence charges that includes kidnapping and witness tampering. Deputies put out the appeal Wednesday as part of the agency's recurring “Warrant Wednesday” series, which spotlights outstanding warrants and leans on tips from the community to track down suspects.
According to a post from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
, detectives are specifically seeking information on Gonzalez's whereabouts. The agency's post lists the charges against him as Domestic Violence Kidnapping Harm or Terrorize, Domestic Violence Tampering with a Witness, and Domestic Violence Domestic Battery.
The sheriff's office has not released a warrant number, case number, bond information, or any detail about when or where the alleged conduct occurred.
What the Kidnapping and Tampering Charges Involve
The kidnapping charge HCSO cites falls under Florida law governing kidnapping intended to inflict bodily harm or to terrorize a victim or another person, according to the state's kidnapping statute, Florida Statute 787.01. Separately, the tampering charge listed against Gonzalez corresponds to Florida's witness-tampering law, which makes it a crime to tamper with a witness, victim, or informant, per Florida Statute 914.22.
Neither statute excerpt reviewed for this story spells out the specific facts alleged against Gonzalez, and the sheriff's office has not disclosed the underlying incident details, including any victims, dates, or locations tied to the case. It also remains unclear whether Gonzalez is currently in custody or still being sought.
Sheriff's Office Asks Public to Call Tip Line
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is headed by Sheriff Chad Chronister, and the agency describes its broader mission as protecting and defending the community while preserving residents' rights and dignity. Anyone with information on Gonzalez's location is asked to call the agency's non-emergency line at 813-247-8200, the number given in the Gonzalez post. The sheriff's office lists 813-247-8000 as its telephone contact on its own contact page.
The agency's Warrant Wednesday posts are a regular feature meant to crowdsource leads on wanted suspects across Hillsborough County. No additional details about Gonzalez's case, including whether he is considered dangerous or armed, have been made public as of Wednesday's post.
