Gainesville man faces seven felony charges after putting trackers on ex-wife's car
Authorities say Austin Weingart installed three devices on the vehicle, leading to a $80,000 bail setting with GPS monitoring requirements.
By Ryan Davidson ·
Austin A. Weingart Jr., 42, of Gainesville, was arrested on Friday and charged with seven felonies after allegedly placing three tracking devices on his ex-wife's vehicle. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office filed the charges following a series of reports from the victim regarding unwanted contact and surveillance.
Detectives stated that the victim first discovered a tracking device on her car about a year ago. Last week, she reported that Weingart continued to contact her after she asked him to stop, sending numerous text messages and calling her 14 times. On November 1, Weingart messaged her about a tracker on the vehicle, claiming he believed the service plan had been renewed even though he said he had not been tracking her since the previous device was found.
Deputies found a similar tracking device on the car at the victim's residence on November 2. A second device was located on the vehicle on November 4 after the victim reported its presence. When deputies interviewed Weingart at Alachua County Sheriff’s Office headquarters on November 5, he admitted to placing approximately three trackers on the car and stated he last accessed the tracking app two months prior.
During the interview, Weingart swallowed an item from his pocket that he identified as prescription medicine. Officers found four dextroamphetamine tablets in his pocket. A search of his vehicle yielded about 7 grams of cocaine, several small baggies, and two firearms. The additional evidence led to charges for drug possession and firearm offenses.
Weingart faces three counts of installing a tracking device without consent, stalking, cocaine possession with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Court records show one prior non-violent misdemeanor conviction. Judge Adam Lee set bail at $80,000 and ordered Weingart to wear a GPS tracker upon release. The charges are based on the arrest report and are accusations pending a trial.
