A 35-year-old Silver Springs man was arrested on Saturday, August 15, after authorities discovered he was attempting to sell a stolen Dodge Ram pickup truck on Facebook Marketplace during a prospective buyer’s test drive, according to arrest reports from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The Traffic Stop and Defaced Hardware Identifiers
The incident unfolded in the 16300 block of NE 13th Lane in Silver Springs, where a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled over a Dodge Ram pickup truck operating without a license plate. When the deputy made contact, the driver explained he was merely test-driving the vehicle with the intent to purchase it. However, the passenger in the vehicle—identified as James August Kuchar—claimed ownership of the truck and told law enforcement that he had listed it for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
A physical inspection of the vehicle revealed signs of tampering. The door hinge plate containing the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) had been removed. Furthermore, the dashboard VIN had been “scratched out to become unreadable.” A metal plate located under the hood preserved the identifier. A subsequent computer run of that serial number confirmed the vehicle belonged to a truck reported stolen out of the Apopka Police Department in July.
The Prospective Buyer’s Digital Trail
While Kuchar faced immediate detention, the prospective buyer was quickly cleared of suspicion. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office report, the potential buyer demonstrated his innocence by showing deputies his message history and the Facebook Marketplace listing for the stolen vehicle.
The buyer also provided testimony regarding Kuchar’s behavior during the test drive. Kuchar allegedly made suspicious remarks, warning the buyer to “make this quick because there is a lot of cops on this road” and urging him to “punch it and drive faster” when a patrol car was spotted.
Conflicting Statements and the Roommate’s Account
Questioned at the scene by the investigating deputy, Kuchar offered conflicting statements. He eventually claimed he acquired the vehicle in Apopka from an older man who claimed to be a former police officer. Despite the missing title, missing registration, and defaced VINs, Kuchar insisted he did not think the truck was stolen, characterizing it as “just a cheap vehicle.”
Kuchar directed deputies to his roommate, stating the individual would be able to provide a bill of sale and an application to receive the title for the pickup truck. When contacted by law enforcement, the roommate reported that Kuchar had “showed up with the vehicle at the beginning of July” without any explanation as to how he had obtained it.
Charges and Upcoming Court Appearance
Following the roadside investigation, Kuchar was taken into custody and booked into the Marion County Jail. He remains held on a $7,500 bond, facing charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and dealing in stolen property. According to jail records, Kuchar is scheduled to appear in a Marion County courtroom on Tuesday, September 15, at 9 a.m.
