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(Lake County, FL) Monday, May 19, 2025, a Lake County Jury found 35-year-old Travis Lee Kaley guilty of one count of Burglary of a Conveyance with a Battery. Kaley, who has a notable violent criminal history, was sentenced by Judge James R. Baxley to seven years in prison.

The case against Kaley stems from a Mascotte Police Department investigation in April of last year, when officers responded to a call for service regarding a battery that had just occurred. The witness informed law enforcement that an acquaintance of hers, identified as Kaley, was messaging prior, asking about her whereabouts and who her companion was.

The witness further informed law enforcement that upon arriving back home, with the victim driving and her in the passenger seat, they observed a pickup truck parked in the middle of the road with the defendant behind the wheel. Kaley, who appeared frustrated, exited the vehicle and approached the witness, who had previously exited the vehicle to defuse the situation.

After the witness briefly spoke with the defendant, the defendant turned and began walking back to his truck. When the witness got back inside the victim’s vehicle, Kaley charged back towards them and began shouting. During this verbal altercation, Kaley opened the passenger’s side door, entered the vehicle, and struck the victim in the face repeatedly. The defendant then fled the incident location.

Kaley was subsequently arrested and charged.

Assistant State Attorney Dustan Geurin prosecuted this case.

Published on 05/22/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Last Friday, May 16, 2025, Amy Linn Ramirez, a 49-year-old resident of Belleview, FL, was found guilty of Unlawful Filing of False Documents or Records Against Real or Personal Property. Following her conviction, Judge Timothy McCourt sentenced Ramirez to five years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

“𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝘾𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨,” stated Bill Gladson, State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. “𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚-𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢 𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥.”

On October 26, 2024, a real estate agent contacted the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) to report a suspicious incident. An MCSO deputy arrived at a residence located off SE 123rd Lane in Belleview, where the complainant advised she arrived at the home to conduct a final walk-through to sign paperwork to close the deal for selling the residence to the victim. Upon arrival, they were met by a handyman who had changed the locks on the home and refused to give the key to the home, stating he was hired by the homeowner, Amy Ramirez, to change the locks.

“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙫𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝙎𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙡𝙖𝙬 𝙚𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡,” said Gregory C. Harrell, Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller.

During the investigation, the real estate agent found a fraudulent document filed by Ramirez regarding the property. A falsified warranty deed was submitted while the property was under contract with the current homeowner. Law enforcement contacted Ramirez, who confirmed she never lived at or owned the victim’s property but claimed she was learning about abandoned property laws. She filed for a ‘Quiet Title’ to assert ownership, stating it was a civil matter. Ramirez was subsequently arrested and charged.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney William Harris.

To sign up for the Property Alert Service, visit https://nvweb.marioncountyclerk.org/PropertyAlert/

Published on 05/20/2025.

(Lake County, FL) Last week, Lake County jurors found the defendant, 42-year-old Christopher Lee England, guilty of Sexual Battery and Burglary of a Dwelling while Armed. After the verdict, the Honorable Judge Eddy, who presided over the case, determined the defendant met the legal qualifications of a Prison Releasee Reoffender and sentenced the defendant to Life in prison.

England was arrested in June of 2022 following a Mascotte Police Department investigation after law enforcement officials received a call from the victim indicating that England, who is known to them, entered their house and proceeded to sexually batter them.

During their investigation, officials learned that the victim awoke during the middle of the night to a masked figure holding a knife to their throat. The intruder then proceeded to play a recording with a distorted voice threatening the victim. During this, one of the two children who were also sleeping in the same bed with the victim began to awake. At that time, the intruder removed their mask, revealing their known identity to the victim.   

England then forced the victim alone into another separate room where he threatened to kill the victim and the victim’s family if they did not listen to him. He then proceeded to sexually batter the victim before fleeing. Detectives also learned that the defendant was released from prison just six months before this incident for a Kidnapping case involving the same victim in Polk County, FL.

An arrest warrant was issued for England. The United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force located him in Winter Haven, FL, and took him into custody after a brief standoff with law enforcement.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Shannon Schlarf and Rachel Jones. 

Published on 05/19/2025.

(Lake County, FL) Wednesday afternoon, 27-year-old Kevin Rasheed Richardson was found guilty by a jury of Death by Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) in connection with the July 17, 2021, death of 28-year-old Pavel Jesus Mata. After his conviction, Judge James R. Baxley sentenced Richardson to Life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Just shortly before midnight on July 17, 2021, deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) responded to a call for service at Sarah’s Place Apartments in Clermont in reference to an unresponsive person. Upon arrival, officials located a male, later determined to be the victim, Pavel Mata, inside a vehicle in the parking lot, unresponsive. Mata was transported by emergency first responders to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased just shortly after.   A medical autopsy would later reveal Mata’s cause of death to be an overdose due to the amount of Fentanyl in his system.

After speaking with the decedent’s family, it was learned that the decedent was attempting to meet with a subject named Kevin, later identified as the defendant, who also lived in the apartment complex. During their investigation, detectives conducted a cellphone forensic extraction on the victim’s phone, which yielded text messages between the victim and the defendant. The messages involved conversations related to the purchase of narcotics.

After obtaining video surveillance footage from the apartment complex, law enforcement was able to observe Richardson approaching the victim, entering the victim’s car for some time, before exiting and leaving.  At no time during the video did anyone else enter the vehicle, nor did the victim exit the car. During their interview with Richardson, he told detectives that he knew the victim and admitted to being present and meeting with Mata the day of his death.

Based on the findings of this case, along with the evidence collected and interviews conducted, Richardson was arrested.

The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant State Attorneys Kenneth Nunnelley and Dustan Geurin.

Published on 05/16/2025.

(Sumter County, FL) Late Thursday evening, jurors in the trial of 24-year-old Jasmine Daebreon Grover reached a verdict, finding Grover guilty of Driving Under the Influence Manslaughter following a fatal vehicle incident that took the life of 21-year-old Alexes Olivia Matthews. Grover was also convicted of Driving Under the Influence with Serious Bodily Injury, Driving Under the Influence Causing Injury, Driving Under the Influence with Property Damage, and Possession of Cannabis.

“What happened to Alexes wasn’t an accident. It was a choice – a conscious, selfish, irreversible choice to drive under the influence. That decision didn’t just end a life – it shattered a family,” stated Oral Matthews, father of the victim. “I’ve spent the last five years waking up every day with the same pain in my chest, trying to explain the unexplainable to her children…. You were supposed to be her friend. Friends protect each other. Friends look out for one another. But you made a choice that night. Because of that choice, my daughter is gone. Forever.”

Back on February 9, 2020, Grover, who was 19 years old at the time, was driving a vehicle with three other passengers, including the victim.  Grover was under the influence at the time and lost control of the vehicle while driving on County Road 476 in Sumter. She veered off the road and onto the shoulder. In an attempt to regain control, Grover overcorrected, causing the vehicle to cross back over the road to the opposite shoulder. Ultimately, the vehicle left the roadway completely and crashed into a tree. The impact of the crash not only ejected the victim but also caused the vehicle to roll on top of her, resulting in her death. 

Florida Highway Patrol conducted a thorough traffic homicide investigation, revealing that Grover was the individual behind the wheel at the time of the crash, according to the two surviving occupants. Additionally, first responders on scene indicated that Grover had bloodshot watery eyes, dilated pupils, slurred speech, and a very thick tongue – all consistent indicators she was under the influence. A substantial amount of cannabis was recovered from Grover’s waistband at the time of the accident.

A blood draw conducted on Grover revealed large quantities of both Cannabis and Etizolam, a controlled substance, in her system at the time of the deadly crash. This evidence, along with testimony from witnesses, members of the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Medical Examiner’s Office, and other fellow medical professionals, were presented during the trial.

Grover was remanded into custody following the verdict to await her sentencing hearing.

“She (Alexes) was vibrant, full of love, and had her whole future ahead of her. She had two beautiful sons, who now have to grow up without their mother. No child should ever have to ask why their mommy isn’t coming home. There are absolutely no words that can express the pain I have endured on and since February 9, 2020,” said Mercedes Matthews, sister of the victim. “I hope that when this court makes its decision, it fully considers the devastating impact of this loss. We are not just statistics or names in a report – we are real people, grieving someone we loved deeply.”

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Joseph Church and Sonny McCathran.

Published on 05/09/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Wednesday afternoon, jurors delivered their verdict in the 2020 murder case of 44-year-old David Vega.  After a brief deliberation, jurors found 49-year-old Stanley Summer Jr. guilty of Premeditated First-Degree Murder with a Firearm. Following the verdict, Judge McCourt sentenced Summer to Life in prison.

“Justice was served today in this case with the defendant serving life for taking the life of another,” said Walter Forgie, Chief Assistant State Attorney. “Our office is grateful to the jury for their service and to the law enforcement officers and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to bring this case to a just conclusion.”  

On November 11, 2020, the Ocala Police Department (OPD) received a call for service in reference to a reported shooting at a residence off NW 16^th Place in Ocala.  Upon arrival, deputies located the victim, David Vega, lying in a pool of blood on the carport floor of the home.  The victim appeared to have a gunshot wound to his head and was pronounced deceased on scene.

Officials on scene began speaking with a witness at the home who indicated she was in the restroom when she heard the “pop” noise before the defendant came walking through the hallway, advising “someone was shot outside.” The witness stated she then exited the home and observed the victim lying on the ground before calling 9-1-1.  

While at the home, law enforcement deputies observed exterior security cameras that pointed towards the incident area. Investigators were able to pull up the Blink application on the witness’s phone to observe several short videos and audio clips depicting Summer walking past the camera in the carport before seeing Vega walking towards the carport. Officials were able to hear a verbal altercation between the two before Summer leaves the carport and enters the house. During the recordings, at no time did Vega exit the carport area or reappear.

On video, officers were able to see the witness exit the home and observe Vega on the carport before leaving to contact law enforcement. Summer, who had fled the scene, was arrested and later charged with the murder of Vega.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Amy Berndt and Toby Hunt. Thank you to OPD Det. M. Coughlin and Det. D. Collier for their diligent work in this case.

Published on 05/09/2025.

(Lake County, FL) In a Lake County courtroom last week, 36-year-old Jettzel Jomar Felix-Marcano was found guilty on all charges related to his 2022 arrest. He was convicted of Aggravated Battery with Great Bodily Harm, Battery, Possession with the Intent to Sell, Manufacture or Deliver Cannabis, and Possession of Paraphernalia. He was sentenced to 12 years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

On May 18, 2022, Deputy Sullivan responded to the Leesburg Police Department (LPD) for a previous battery that occurred within the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) jurisdiction. Officers from the LPD originally spoke with the victim, who entered their lobby to report that they had been continuously battered by Felix-Marcano.

When asked by Deputy Sullivan, the victim disclosed additional abuse by the defendant, from repeatedly beating them, to forcefully placing their hand on a burning stove and striking the victim with a belt. The victim further stated that they felt that today would consist of “Leave, stay or die.”

Due to the victim’s injuries observed by law enforcement, they were transported for medical treatment. Based on the victim’s statements and injuries that corroborated their story, officers responded to the house of Felix-Marcano for further investigation. Deputies made contact with the defendant and placed him into custody.

While on the scene, Deputy Caston found the belt described by the victim as being used by Felix-Marcano. The officer also discovered a large amount of cannabis on the kitchen counter of the home, along with various paraphernalia, which was collected and turned into evidence. 

The outcome of this case stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of our law enforcement partners to protect and serve the citizens of their community. Thank you to both Assistant State Attorney Gennady Gusak and Assistant State Attorney Mark Van Haasteren for prosecuting this case and Victim Advocate Ann Bass for helping the victim throughout the process.

Published on 05/02/2025.

(Citrus County, FL) This week, 50-year-old Robert Paul Kowanko was sentenced to 30 years in the Florida Department of Corrections after being found guilty by a jury back in March for trafficking illicit narcotics charges stemming from his 2023 arrest. Kowanko was convicted of Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Trafficking in Cocaine, Unlawful Use of a Two-way Communications Device, and Possession of Paraphernalia.

Kowanko was arrested in September 2023 after an investigation by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which uncovered his involvement in the sale of large quantities of methamphetamine in Citrus County. Following a controlled buy, officers approached Kowanko and his co-defendant, Sean Thomas Joyce, who were exiting a wooded area near US 19 in Crystal River.

Law enforcement detained Kowanko and Joyce and searched their vehicle, finding a clear baggie with a white powder, a digital scale, and hypodermic needles. Kowanko had another baggie with a similar substance, while Joyce was also found with narcotics. Field tests confirmed the substances were fentanyl and methamphetamine. Kowanko later admitted to selling the drugs after being read his Miranda rights.

Co-defendant Joyce pleaded guilty earlier this year and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The outcome of this case resulted from the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners and Assistant State Attorneys Kaitlyn Mannis and Kevin Davis.

Published on 5/1/2025.

(Citrus County, FL) Today, State Attorney Bill Gladson announced the grand jury indictment of 43-year-old David Nemyier.

A grand jury was convened to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to charge Nemyier, son-in-law of the victim, for the senseless murder of 67-year-old Kyle Pazian. On April 9, 2025, Nemyier unlawfully and from a premeditated design murdered Kyle Pazian, by actually possessing and discharging a firearm, causing his death as a result of a firearm discharge. 

The grand jury returned a true bill of indictment for the following charges:

·MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE WITH A FIREARM– PREMEDITATED 782.04(1)(a)1, 775.087(2)(a)1, 775.087(2)(a)2 and 775.087(2)(a)3

Facts of the case revealed that on Friday, April 11, 2025, just shortly before 11 a.m., the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a deceased male located inside a residence on Cherrywood Ct. in Crystal River. Officers on scene were able to identify the male as Kyle Pazian. Nemyier was arrested and charged with murder on April 13, 2025.

Nemyier remains in custody on no-bond status in a local detention facility.

Published on 04/30/2025.

(Lake County, FL) Tuesday, April 22, 2025, jurors returned a guilty verdict in the case against 55-year-old Darin Kirkpatrick Starks, who was charged with two counts of Battery on a Person 65 years of Age or Older. The victims were 70 and 72 years old. Starks was remanded into custody to await his sentencing hearing.

Back in April of 2024, an elderly victim contacted the Clermont Police Department and stated they had just been attacked by a friend, later identified as the defendant. The victim told authorities that Starks was homeless, and they allowed him to come to their home from time to time if there was inclement weather.

The victim further told deputies that when Starks would come over, they noticed items going missing. When the victim confronted the defendant about this, they began to argue. and Starks pushed the victim. During the physical altercation, a roommate of the victim attempted to intervene when Starks also began attacking them.

The physical confrontation moved out to the backyard, where Starks continued to hit and kick both victims. The first victim was able to run away and contact law enforcement. In doing so, Starks took off from the location with officers eventually locating him a short time later down the road.

When questioned about the battery on both victims, Starks stated he became upset after being accused of stealing and felt that the two victims were getting in his face. He admitted to pushing, punching, and kicking the victims.

This case was diligently prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys La Toya Jackson and Chelsey Omega.  

Published on 04/24/2025.