A Belleview man is facing a litany of charges after deputies say he stole a deceased man’s vehicle and firearm—then was found with fentanyl, meth, marijuana, and a suspiciously well-stocked Crown Royal bag.
It all started when John Prendergast told deputies he had inherited his late father’s belongings, including a Chevy Uplander and a SCCY pistol. Out of compassion, he let Josh Blevins park an RV in the backyard. That decision turned out to be more than just generous—it was costly.
At some point in June, both the pistol and vehicle keys vanished. Blevins allegedly admitted to taking them but promised to return the items to avoid trouble. That promise didn’t age well.
On July 1, the Uplander disappeared. Later that day, Ocala Police found it parked at Walmart on E Silver Springs Blvd—with Blevins and two others nearby. Officers say Blevins was seen digging through a black backpack and tossing items into the backseat as they approached.
A K-9 unit helped secure the scene, and a search of the vehicle turned up more than just a stolen pistol. In plain view: meth. In a backpack: marijuana, fentanyl wrapped in foil, a hypodermic needle, and a sunglasses case hidden inside a Crown Royal bag.
Blevins, a convicted felon with prior charges including drug possession and grand theft auto, was arrested once again. He now faces new charges including armed burglary, grand theft of a firearm and vehicle, multiple drug possession charges, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
He’s currently being held at the Marion County Jail.
