Hakkens Booked into Hillsborough County Jail

Joshua and Sharyn Hakken’s international flight with their kidnapped children came to an end in the early morning hours Wednesday, April 10, right back in Hillsborough County where it all started.

A week ago at this time a manhunt for the Hakkens began after Joshua, 35, was accused of breaking into his mother-in-law’s Carrollwood area home, tying her up and taking his two young children by force. His flight with the children, Chase, 2, and Cole, 4, would take him into Pinellas County’s Madeira Beach where he had a sailboat waiting.

From Madeira beach, the Hakken family sailed to Cuba. The government there cooperated with the U.S. State Department and swiftly remanded the elder Hakkens and their two young children into American custody. A plane loaded with law enforcement officers flew to Cuba April 9 to retrieve the family.

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That plane was inside American airspace in the early morning hours of April 10 when Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee led a press conference announcing the safe return of the Hakken children. He also announced that both Joshua and Sharyn Hakken would be booked into the county jail upon their return on a number of charges stemming from the April 3 kidnapping.

Gee’s announcement ended questions about Sharyn Hakken’s involvement in the case. In the days following the kidnapping it was unclear what role, if any, Sharyn Hakken played in the abduction of her young sons.

The Hakkens, who gave jail officials a South Tampa address of 3609 S. Sterling Ave., are now behind bars on charges as follows, according to jail records:

• Joshua Hakken, 35, faces burglary of a dwelling, false imprisonment, grand theft motor vehicle, child neglect, interference of child custody and kidnapping charges, according to jail records.
• Sharyn Hakken, 34, was booked into jail April 10 on kidnapping, burglary of a dwelling, interference with child custody and child neglect charges.