Man recently released from prison arrested for attempting to steal a riding mower and tree climbing equipment

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Joseph Ander Holder, 30, was arrested yesterday afternoon and charged with burglary and grand theft after allegedly trying to steal a zero-turn riding mower and tree-climbing equipment from a tree service company.

Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call on SE Hawthorne Road at about 1:15 p.m. regarding a burglary in progress; the owner of the property reported that he was notified by his surveillance camera that someone was in his workshop.

A deputy made contact at the scene with Holder, who was allegedly attempting to leave the property with a John Deere Zero-Turn riding mower, tree-climbing equipment, and a 5-gallon gas can containing gas. The items were valued at approximately $6,220.

Holder was also charged with entering a pickup truck on the property and taking $2.08 in cash.

Post Miranda, Holder reportedly confessed to burglary of the workshop, burglary of the truck, and theft of the items. He has been charged with two counts of burglary of an unoccupied structure, one count of grand theft, and one count of petit theft. Holder has 12 felony convictions and was most recently released from state prison on April 30, 2022. He also has a pending felony theft case in Marion County. He is being held on $40,000 bail.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.