SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Two men accused of devising a plot to lure their former roommate to their home so they could stab him in revenge for the theft of their PlayStation 4 have been indicted on multiple felony charges, the Brevard-Seminole State Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.
A grand jury indicted Jake Adam Bilotta, 22, on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 24-year-old Joshua Barnes. Officials from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office said Bilotta and his roommate Ian McClurg suspected Barnes of stealing their PlayStation 4 so they texted him to come to their house in unincorporated Maitland under the guise of going to a party then when Barnes arrived the night of Nov. 26, he was ambushed.
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Both men were arrested on first-degree murder charges after one of their roommates arrived home from a Tinder date to find Bilotta and McClurg stuffing Barnes' body into plastic bags, according to authorities.
Prosecutors said Tuesday that because only Bilotta stabbed and fought with Barnes, McClurg would be charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and criminal conspiracy to commit capital murder.
If convicted, Bilotta could face the death penalty, although it's unclear if the state will seek that punishment against him. McClurg could face 30 years in prison on the accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and criminal conspiracy to commit capital murder charges and a maximum of five years in prison on the tampering with physical evidence charge.