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(Marion County, FL) Yesterday, in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Barbara Kissner-Kwatkosky, jurors found 26-year-old Terry Eugene Hartsock III guilty of Lewd and Lascivious Battery.

Hartsock was arrested in October of 2022 following a Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) investigation into a missing juvenile.  

On October 22, 2022, HCSO deputies took a report of a missing 13-year-old female child. The mother of the juvenile reported to officials that her daughter was last seen on their home porch around 10 p.m. that night after coming back from a fall festival.

Law enforcement was able to collect details on what clothing the juvenile was wearing prior to going missing. Authorities issued a BOLO, and due to the child’s missing and endangered status, were able to conduct an emergency ping of the child’s cellphone, which was discovered to have last pinged in Ocala near I-75. 

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was contacted in reference to the missing juvenile and informed of her last location. Officials were also able to obtain the juvenile’s last text messages which indicated she was possibly picked up by the defendant. An address was obtained for Hartsock where it was learned he resided in a camper trailer in an RV park off Silver Springs Blvd.

Both the HCSO and MCSO responded to the address and attempted contact with Hartsock, who initially didn’t open the door for law enforcement. Once contact was made, the juvenile was located inside the bedroom of the camper.

After being reunited with her parents, the juvenile disclosed sexual acts committed by Hartsock upon the juvenile while inside his home. A SANE examination was conducted, taking various swabs from the juvenile victim. The DNA collected from the swabs matched that of the defendant.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Katrina Self.

Published on 08/15/2025.

(Marion County, FL) On July 30, 2025, 26-year-old Maria Guadalupe Bautista was found guilty after a jury trial on 13 counts of Fraudulent Use of Personal Information.  

Bautista was originally arrested in 2023 after investigators uncovered a petition fraud scheme in which she unlawfully used the personal information of multiple individuals, including one elected government official, to falsify petition signatures.

“Election integrity is a cornerstone of our democratic process,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “We remain committed to holding individuals accountable for crimes that undermine public trust.”

Back in November of 2021, the Office of Wesley Wilcox, the Supervisor of Elections for Marion County, contacted the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office regarding a complaint of widespread fraud related to a Constitutional Amendment 21-16 petition for the Limited Authorization of Casino Gaming.

“This fraud is a way to run around the state’s legislative process and turn Florida’s Constitution into a playground for political gamesmanship, and it’s unacceptable,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “This guilty verdict is a victory for not only the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney but the entire state of Florida.”

Investigator Jeff Pfannerstill with the State Attorney’s Office met with the Supervisor of Elections, who informed the investigator that his staff is responsible for receiving all signed petitions collected and verifying the signatures. Upon doing so, his staff found two apparent fraudulent petitions that had the signature of a paid registered petition circulator by the name of Maria Bautista.

Staff of the elections office further reviewed petition forms submitted by the defendant and found numerous forms that did not match the signatures on the voter rolls submitted by Bautista. Additionally, of the fraudulent petition forms submitted by the defendant, two contained signatures of deceased registered voters.

Investigator Pfannerstill contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for further assistance in investigating the case. Inspector Adam Graff with the FDLE obtained an address for Bautista in Gainesville, where contact was made with the defendant. Upon questioning the defendant, she informed investigators that she did work for a political action committee after seeing an ad on Craigslist for a job.

While speaking with the defendant, she was shown one of the fraudulent cards and confirmed to officials that it was indeed her signature on the submitted petition forms. The petition form in question contained the voter information and a fraudulent signature for a Marion County elected official. When questioned as to the person who filled out the form, Bautista claimed she did not recall the individual who signed it.

Continuing their investigation, Inspector Graff reached out to the Department of Elections (DOE) and requested a search to be completed to determine the number of petitions submitted by the defendant. The DOE returned the results of the submitted petitions by Bautista, and probable cause was established for the defendant’s arrest.

Bautista’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time, pending a presentencing investigation. The defendant faces a three-year minimum-mandatory prison sentence.

The State Attorney’s Office appreciates the efforts of FDLE Inspector Graff, SAO Investigator Pfannerstill, Assistant State Attorney Janine Nixon, Certified Legal Intern Sandy Edwards, the Department of Elections, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, and all who assisted in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.

Published on 08/04/2025.

(Sumter County, FL) Earlier this morning, now 24-year-old Tyler Ryan Hirsch, who was 16 years old at the time of the crime, was sentenced in the murder case of 33-year-old Melody Victoria Bennett. Back in March, Hirsch entered an open plea to the court and was convicted of Murder in the First-degree, Attempted Sexual Battery while Armed, Burglary of a Dwelling while Armed, and three counts of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.

Hirsch was sentenced by Judge Mary P. Hatcher to Life in the Florida Department of Corrections.

“This was a senseless and horrific act of violence that devastated a family and shocked an entire neighborhood,” said Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie. “We are grateful to the investigators who worked tirelessly on this case and to the judge for today’s life sentence, which ensures that the defendant will never again be in a position to harm another innocent person.”

On January 25, 2018, the day after Melody Bennett’s thirty-third birthday, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence off County Road 625 in Bushnell in reference to a deceased person. Upon arrival, the victim’s brother indicated he came to the victim’s home to check in on her after not hearing from Melody for a few days.  

The witness further stated that once he entered the home, he discovered his sister deceased inside. Officials began their investigation into her death, after determining the victim had died from homicidal violence due to numerous stab wounds observed on her body. DNA samples were taken from the victim, as well as various items at the scene. An autopsy of the victim was conducted by the Medical Examiner, and determined that the victim died between the night of the 21^st and 22^nd due to multiple sharp force injuries.

During their investigation, officials conducted a neighborhood canvas and spoke with then 16-year-old Hirsh. Hirsh stated he knew the victim as they were neighbors and the victim was a family friend. Hirsh denied any knowledge of the crime, however, officials later learned that the day the victim’s body was located – when there was a large law enforcement presence in the area – Hirsh was picked up by his school bus driver who asked what was going on, with Hirsh responding that a woman was stabbed to death. At that time, law enforcement officials had not released any information about the crime, nor the manner of death.

 Law enforcement later responded to Hirsh’s school, where they were able to speak with the defendant’s teacher. The teacher informed deputies that on the morning of January 22, 2018, Hirsh had requested to go to the school nurse to retrieve a band-aid. The defendant had a large laceration and other minor cuts to his hand. When asked what happened, Hirsch told his teacher he didn’t want to talk about it and that it was personal.

Law enforcement met with Hirsch’s parents and requested an interview with the juvenile at the sheriff’s office. During this custodial interview, Hirsch’s story about his interactions with the victim changed. Authorities collected a DNA sample from Hirsch to compare to the DNA found at the scene. 

After months of investigation and a positive DNA match comparison, Hirsch was arrested on January 17, 2019, for the death of Melody Victoria Bennett.

The State Attorney’s Office thanks the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office for its swift and thorough investigation, as well as the many individuals who came forward to assist in this case. Assistant State Attorneys Blake Shore and Richard Buxman prosecuted this case.

Published on 08/01/2025.

OCALA, FL – Today, State Attorney Bill Gladson announces the final resolution of the 2023 Ocklawaha triple-murder case after all three defendants entered pleas earlier this year. The defendants – 19-year-old Robert Robinson, 19-year-old Tahj Brewton and 15-year-old Christopher Atkins – were sentenced for their involvement in the execution-style killings of 16-year-old Layla Silvernail, 17-year-old Michael Hodo Jr., and 16-year-old Camille Quarles.  

Defendants Robinson and Brewton were sentenced to life in prison. Defendant Atkins was sentenced to 40 years in prison. All three defendants were charged as adults.

“Justice demanded nothing less than full accountability,” said State Attorney Bill Gladson. “These convictions honor the stolen lives of Layla, Michael and Camille while affirming that no one—regardless of age—may brutally take the life of another without facing the gravest consequences.”

Between March 30 and April 1, 2023, the bodies of the victims were found discarded in the Ocklawaha area. Layla Silvernail was found lying near a dumpster with a gunshot wound to her head, barely alive, and later died at the hospital due to her injuries. Michael Hodo Jr., who was also shot in the head, was discovered along the side of the road. Camille Quarles, who was shot two times, was found dead in the trunk of Layla Silvernail’s partially submerged vehicle. 

The case was presented to a grand jury in May 2023 which indicted Robinson and Brewton on three counts of First-Degree Murder and Atkins on one; all were also charged with Armed Robbery and Evidence Tampering. Although Robinson was 17 years old, Brewton was 16 years old, and Atkins was 12 years old at the time of the crimes, the premeditation, use of a firearm, and callous disposal of the bodies showed a level of intent indistinguishable from adults.

The youngest defendant, Atkins, pleaded guilty in April 2025, agreeing to testify against his two co-defendants. Brewton pleaded guilty in June 2025, with both him and Atkins accepting pleas that include a minimum of 40 years in prison. Robinson pleaded no contest in June 2025, avoiding a trial.

Our office would like to thank the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Marshals, and the Orlando Police Department who helped piece together more than 200 tips, witness statements and forensic leads that brought this case to a close. We also thank Assistant State Attorneys Toby Hunt and Rich Buxman for prosecuting this case.

(Citrus County, FL) Today, 31-year-old Angel Alberto Seda Ways was sentenced to 19 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. His sentence carries a 15-year minimum mandatory under Florida law. Seda Ways was adjudicated guilty on all charges earlier this year after jurors found him guilty of Trafficking in Cocaine with Actual Possession of a Firearm, Conspiracy to Commit Trafficking in Cocaine, and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Back in September of 2022, after several months of investigation, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) detectives ended a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation. 

CCSO officials were notified by federal partners of packages containing illicit narcotics being mailed to a property in Citrus County. Working with the United States Postal Service and Homeland Security, CCSO officers intercepted packages containing multiple kilos of cocaine being sent to the address.

After conducting additional surveillance, narcotics investigators secured a search warrant for the property located off South Kensington Ave. in Lecanto, FL. During the execution of the warrant, they located multiple kilograms of cocaine, an extensive amount of cash, firearms, a narcotics ledger, scales, packaging equipment, and a money counter.

Three individuals were arrested and charged accordingly, one of whom was defendant Seda Ways.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Tara Hartman and Kevin Davis.

Published on 07/21/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Yesterday, 36-year-old Jeremy Donye Walker entered a plea in court just minutes before jurors were scheduled to hear the state’s evidence against the defendant. Walker pleaded no contest to Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, Possession with the Intent to Sell Hydromorphone, Possession of Ammunition by a Felon, No Motor Vehicle Registration, and No Valid Driver’s License.  

After being convicted on the above charges, Walker was sentenced to six years in prison, followed by four years of probation, court fees and fines, along with mandated mental health treatment to be completed upon his release.

On March 6, 2025, while conducting normal traffic patrol in Umatilla, Florida, Deputy Ricketts with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office observed a gray Ford Focus weaving in and out of lanes while decelerating and accelerating intermittently. Upon catching up to the vehicle, the deputy estimated the driver’s speed to be approximately 90 miles per hour.

Deputy Ricketts then attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the car. The driver failed to pull over and began crossing lanes into oncoming traffic. Additional deputies were called to assist in the pursuit, and several miles ahead, Deputy Bloom successfully deployed tire deflation devices, causing the vehicle to come to a stop. The defendant, later identified as Walker, exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. 

Inside the vehicle, officials observed a clear baggie with pills on the driver’s floorboard. The pills were identified as Hydromorphone. Law enforcement also recovered a yellow backpack that the defendant tossed out the window during the pursuit. Inside the front pocket of the bookbag, they located three live rounds of 9mm ammunition.

After running Walker’s information, law enforcement learned that he did not possess a valid registration for the vehicle or a driver’s license and was a convicted felon. Walker was promptly arrested and charged.

Assistant State Attorneys Samuel Militello and William Harris prosecuted this case.

Published on 07/18/2025.

(Citrus County, FL) Wednesday, July 2, 2025, jurors rendered a guilty verdict in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Joel D. Fritton during the trial of 42-year-old Chad Michael Beaver. Beaver was found guilty as charged for the offenses of Burglary of a Dwelling and Petit Theft.

After jurors delivered their verdict to the court, Judge Fritton ordered Beaver into custody to conduct a presentencing investigation. Beaver faces a minimum mandatory of 15 years in prison due to his Prison Releasee Reoffender status.

On October 6, 2024, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) dispatch received a call from the victim indicating some of the items from their home had been stolen and were observed at another residence in the neighborhood.

Responding deputies learned that just five days prior, a neighbor of the victim had contacted them to see if anyone was supposed to be at the victim’s residence collecting items. The victim indicated no, and the neighbor informed the two people observed at the home, later identified as the defendant, and a female subject, that all the items stored in totes on the porch were not for taking.

Beaver attempted to tell the neighbor that he thought the items were discarded since many individuals in the area were putting out items for trash after the recent hurricane had flooded the homes. After putting some items back, Beaver and a female left the residence.

The victim further stated to police that they didn’t know if anything was stolen as all their items were packed in totes due to the hurricane clean-up efforts. However, after going to check on another property they owned, the victim passed by a nearby home that had two unique crystal lamps, a Wizard of Oz theme serving tray, and other unique memorabilia that the victim clearly identified as theirs.

Officers arrived at the residence in question, located off West Bayshore Drive in Crystal River. On scene, they questioned the homeowner about the stolen items on the property. The owner indicated that a female by the name of April Lashanda Johnson and the defendant had brought the items with them to the home. After speaking with the female, deputies were able to determine that both she and Beaver had knowingly removed the items from the victim’s home after being told the items were not discarded property.

Beaver and co-defendant Johnson were subsequently arrested.

Assistant State Attorneys Kaitlyn Mannis and Tara Hartman successfully prosecuted this case.

Published on 07/08/2025.

(Citrus County, FL) On Friday, June 27, 2025, prosecutors with the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office presented the grand jury indictment of 18-year-old Hector Jose Rios Guzman IV.   

A grand jury was convened to determine whether there was probable cause to charge Guzman for his role in the September 23, 2024, death of 11-week-old Ezrial Lazaro Rios McCallister. The grand jury issued an indictment for the following charge:

·MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (FELONY MURDER) 782.04(1)(a)2

Guzman remains in custody on no-bond status in an area detention facility.

Published on 07/02/2025.

(Hernando County, FL) Last week, Judge Daniel B. Merritt, Jr. sentenced 41-year-old Jerae Crussell to Life in Prison after being found guilty during his jury trial earlier this year. Crussell was convicted of Aggravated Battery with Great Bodily Harm with a Firearm (possession, discharge, and great bodily harm).

Crussell’s case stems from his 2022 arrest after officials with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting that occurred in the parking lot of the Mermaid’s Lounge in Spring Hill, Florida.  On scene, law enforcement located the victim who had multiple apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local trauma center for treatment. Authorities learned the defendant had fled the scene.

Detectives with the Major Case Unit began their investigation into the events leading up to the shooting. Forensic Specialists examined the incident area and collected vital evidence, including numerous spent shell casings. Surveillance footage, which contained video evidence of the altercation, was collected from a business located in the same plaza.

Through the evidence collected and from speaking with witnesses, the defendant was developed as the suspect. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

The Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force received intel that Crussell was working down in Pasco County, Florida. The task force was able to locate Crussell and take him into custody without further incident.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Ben Larison and Angelina Rodeo.

Published on 06/23/2025.

(Marion County, FL) After the conclusion of his jury trial yesterday, 37-year-old Brian Joseph Jankowski was found guilty of Aggravated Stalking, Violation of Domestic Injunction with Two Prior Convictions, and Resisting Law Enforcement without Violence. Having reviewed the defendant’s criminal history spanning over twenty years, Judge Peter M. Brigham sentenced Jankowski to 10 years in the Florida Department of Corrections on this conviction.

Back on June 21, 2024, deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for service in reference to a violation of a domestic violence injunction. The victim advised that Jankowski made repeated attempts to contact them in violation of an active injunction for protection against the defendant.

The victim further stated to law enforcement that Jankowski had been showing up at their residence multiple times over the past few days, as well as continuously calling and leaving voicemails. The victim was able to show officials their cell phone call log, which showed calls from a blocked number with several voicemails left by the defendant. Many of the voicemails pleaded with the victim to answer the phone, and other harassing messages were sent.

Law enforcement obtained an address for the defendant and attempted to make contact to further investigate.  Upon arriving at Jankowski’s residence, the defendant attempted to flee on foot out the back door of the home. He was eventually taken into custody. During a post-Miranda interview, Jankowski admitted to having knowledge of the active injunction against him and further admitted to contacting the victim. He was placed under arrest and charged.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Lillian Rozsa and Certified Legal Intern Sandra Edwards.

Published on 06/19/2025.