BY DAN HILDEBRAN
A Lawtey man has been arrested for grand theft after investigators say he took more than $5,600 worth of equipment from the Edwards Road sports complex, where he had previously managed a youth baseball league.
Braxton Leon Britt, 44, faces one count of grand theft between $5,000 and $10,000, a third-degree felony. He was released on bond following the filing of a warrant affidavit on March 11 by Bradford County Sheriff’s Office Det. Mark Juen.
According to the affidavit, Britt had operated the Bradford Youth Athletics Babe Ruth baseball league.
The city of Starke terminated his contract at the end of 2025 and transitioned management of the complex to Bradford Sports United.
When incoming Bradford Sports United President Danny Riddick took over the facility, he discovered several city-owned items were missing, according to the report. Starke City Manager Russell Mullins told investigators that Britt had been given ample opportunity to return the items but had not done so.
Investigators say the missing items included an ice machine from Gainesville Ice Company valued at $2,369.90, six sets of baseball bases, two double first base sets, pitching rubbers, home plates, base plugs, anchor tools and cans of paint — all totaling $5,678.01. Purchase invoices provided by Mullins were attached to the report.
Riddick told detectives that he had allowed Britt to host one final youth baseball tournament at the complex around Nov. 22-23, 2025, and that Britt was given until Dec. 1 to remove his personal equipment. When renovation of the concession stand began Dec. 1, workers discovered the ice machine was gone.
Riddick told investigators he had heard a rumor that the missing ice machine had been relocated to the concession stand at Bradford High School. Det. H. Flynn followed up at the school and spoke directly with Britt, who showed her the ice machine in the softball concession stand.
Britt told the detective that he and parents had paid for the ice machine and that it bore no tag identifying it as city property. He said if the city could prove ownership, they were welcome to it.
Flynn photographed the machine. The city of Starke subsequently provided a replacement ice machine to the complex for youth sports use, according to the report.
According to an email from high school Principal Chris Coffey, Britt has been removed as a high school softball coach.
“Due to an incident unrelated to Bradford High School, Coach Britt has been removed from his coaching duties effective immediately,” Coffey wrote. “We have asked Coach Belinda Phillips to serve as the head coach for the remainder of the season. Coach Phillips has coached multiple sports at both Bradford High School and Bradford Middle School, and we are confident she will do a great job leading the program.”
The principal added that administrators met with the team today to inform players of the change and address any questions they may have had.
