Second suspect arrested in closed chocolate factory occupation
Hunter
4/8/19
Iowa City police have arrested a second suspect in an unauthorized occupation of a shuttered business.
Authorities were called to the former Bochner Chocolate Factory at 1419 Waterfront Drive in Iowa City on March 28th. The owner of the property told police that he discovered multiple doors unlocked, with money and a passport missing.
The safe and several locking file cabinets were also found pried open by force.
Police found a suspect, 32-year-old transient Christina Fleming, hiding in a locked closet that she and a man, who was not present, had set up as their sleeping quarters. That man was identified as 57 year-old transient Frank Nicastri, as mail and other documents with Nicastri’s name on it were found at the scene. Fleming allegedly indicated that Nicastri was the one who damaged the locked cabinets and safe, and stole $40 in cash from the safe.
Fleming was taken into custody on the 28th; Nicalstri was apprehended and booked into the Johnson County Jail on Saturday morning.
The two have both been charged with burglary in the third degree, a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison if convicted.
