A 31-year-old convicted sex offender has been arrested and charged with robbing a cell phone store in New Port Richey. 

  • Man arrested, charged in Pasco store robbery
  • John McCarthy, 31, charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon, among other charges
  • McCarthy, a registered sex offender, was released from prison Dec. 14

According to New Port Richey police, John McCarthy pulled a knife on a clerk at the Boost Mobile store at 6318 U.S Hwy 19 on Sunday and demanded money.

Officers said McCarthy entered the store just after 5 p.m. and spoke to the female clerk about buying a cell phone. 

As the clerk went into the back of the store to look for a phone, McCarthy locked the front door, officials said. When she came back into the room, he grabbed her by the hair and held a knife to her throat and pinned her against a wall, according to the arrest report.

The clerk tried to push him away and cut her hands on the knife. 

McCarthy demanded money and ordered the clerk to retrieve money from the cash register, authorities said. He ran out of the store after receiving an undisclosed amount of money. 

Police were able to track McCarthy down by a receipt from a nearby Dollar General store he threw in the trash at the cell phone store. 

The receipt contained an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card number, according to the police report. Video was obtained from the Dollar General Store and investigators began tracing who the EBT card belonged to. The card was traced back to McCarthy, who is known to police.

Also, the clerk was able to positively identify McCarthy from a photo. 

McCarthy was taken into custody Monday at a home in the 6000 block of Bandura Drive, a different address than his registered address. Authorities said during questioning he admitted to the robbery saying he was hungry and needed the money. 

McCarthy is facing charges of armed robbery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping while committing a felony and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. 

Police said additional charges are being considered because McCarthy failed to notify authorities within 48 hours of moving, which is a condition of his Sex Offender status.

According to records, McCarthy was released from prison on December 14 after serving five years for a sex offense.