Johnny Bobbitt, homeless man linked to GoFundMe scam, is caught after skipping court date
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2018 file photo, Johnny Bobbitt stands during a hearing Burlington County Courthouse in Mt. Holly, N.J. (David Swanson /The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, Pool, File)
Johnny Bobbitt, the homeless man accused of conspiring with a New Jersey couple to cheat GoFundMe donors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, was arrested Wednesday after failing to show up for a scheduled court date the day before.
Philadelphia police said Bobbitt was taken into custody in the city Wednesday morning.
Bobbitt was scheduled to appear in a Burlington County, New Jersey, courtroom Tuesday for a hearing on whether he had violated the conditions of his bail. Judge Mark Tarantino issued a bench warrant for Bobbitt's arrest after he failed to appear.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bobbit was released on bail last month after Tarantino insisted on a number of conditions, including that he wear an electronic monitoring device, seek employment and attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings three times a week. On Tuesday, the judge said that Bobbitt had not been in contact with court officers since Dec. 17 and may be using drugs. A hearing to determine whether Bobbitt is to be accepted into a diversionary drug court is scheduled for later this month.
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Prosecutors say Bobbitt, 35, conspired with Katelyn McClure and her then-boyfriend, Mark D'Amico, to concoct a story about Bobbitt giving McClure his last $20 for gas. Bobbit and the couple raised $400,000, which authorities say was largely spent on luxury items and casino trips. All three have been charged with theft by deception and conspiracy to commit theft by deception.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}GoFundMe says it has refunded everyone who contributed to the campaign.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.