Wanted man, child found living in van

The St Augustine Record ^ | February 18, 2009 | CHAD SMITH

[Melissa 24]

A 60-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl said to be his daughter were discovered early Tuesday living inside a van that contained rotten food, soiled underwear, a book of pornography, two small dogs, bugs and a potty-training toilet with urine in the bowl.

A deputy on routine patrol at the St. Augustine Wal-Mart came upon the van about 12:30 a.m. A search revealed its owner, John M. Sesnick, was wanted on federal fraud charges.

The officer woke the man in the driver's seat and asked his name.

"John Sesnick," he replied, and the deputy, Samantha English, handcuffed him.

Because of what investigators later found in the van, Sesnick could be facing charges of child neglect or child abuse.

Sesnick, a 60-year-old who has a listed Ponte Vedra address, said he had been visiting family in Ponte Vedra and was living in his van while traveling.

[Melissa 24]

I can't believe people witnessed this odd sight and did not report it. Shame on them all! How someone does not speak up especially when there is a child involved is totally beyond me.

"To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice"

[rednesss]

“Now from what I hear, you’re using your paper not for writing but for rollin’ doobies! You’re gonna be doing alot of doobie rolling when you’re living in a van down by the river!”

[tvdog12345]

Lots of people sleep in the Walmart parking lot at night. Walmart doesn’t mind, and they have security. With the economy going from bad to worse, this sort of thing is going to be a lot more common. There won’t be room in the orphanages for all the poor children, either.

[livius]

Strange story. The child has other family members in Florida, although it’s still not clear who she is or who her “father” is, except that he’s probably not her father.

Walmart lets RVers and others stay in their parking lot at night, and most of them are just nice, ordinary people. It’s a good thing that this police officer just kept on looking. She was observant and just followed the procedures, which often enough does turn up situations that need a little more looking into. I hope the girl is ok and that they’ve found some place decent for her to stay.

[DeLaine]

in your neighborhood ping

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I’ve seen him and the van around. There is a hobo camp in the woods behind Big Lots, don’t know if he was there but the van was in the area. We have hobo camps under most of the trees these days.

[BerryDingle]

There's going to be more of them around as That zero's Great Depression sets in.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Got my tent and sleeping bag ready!

[Snickering Hound]