Sheriff determines that victim set up robbery

A 25 year-old St Augustine woman originally thought to be the victim of a Christmas Eve home-invasion robbery is spending her New Year’s holiday in the St Johns County Detention Facility in lieu of $152,500 bail and facing charges that she participated in the crime.

Public Information Officer Charles E. Mulligan, told Historic City News reporters that Sherell Junice Dillard, who resides at 35 Phillips Street in St Augustine, was arrested Friday, December 30.

Investigators determined that on Christmas Eve, Dillard sent a text message to an unnamed assailant from the victim’s residence on Northwood Drive in St Augustine. Mulligan said that the message confirmed that the victim had cash in the house and that Dillard had left the door unlocked.

The robbery happened around 3:00 a.m. Dillard was watching a movie with the male victim when a masked man entered the house, pointed a gun at them and demanded money, Mulligan said. Dillard handed over the victim’s wallet, cell phone and some other items to the robber.

Deputies are still searching for the robber. “We do believe we have some good leads to work with,” Mulligan told reporters.