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(Citrus County, FL) This morning, 28-year-old Sarah Jeanne Gatke was sentenced to 24 months in the Florida Department of Corrections, followed by 6 years of probation for her 2025 arrest, which resulted in the charges of Burglary of Conveyance with Battery, Felony Battery, and Resist Law Enforcement Officer without Violence. Gatke originally pleaded no contest in an open plea to the court back in November of 2025.

The incident took place on February 19, 2025, around 7 p.m. while driving down Ozella Trail in Crystal River, Florida. Three good Samaritans noticed a white SUV partially submerged in water off the side of the road. Concerned that there might be occupants inside who could drown, they pulled over to help.

The first victim exited their vehicle to assist the female driver, who was later identified as the defendant, inside the flooded SUV. Meanwhile, the second victim stayed in the vehicle with the witness to call 9-1-1 to report the accident.

The first victim tried to assist Gatke by asking if she was okay and if she could walk back to the shore from the waterway. As Gatke approached land, she became angry and began yelling at the first victim, before repeatedly striking the victim. During this physical altercation, the second victim shouted at Gatke to stop hitting the first victim and mentioned that the incident was being captured on their dash camera video. Hearing this, Gatke approached the second victim, who was still seated in their vehicle, opened the door, and repeatedly struck the second victim in the face.

At this time, victim one attempted to intervene when Gatke redirected her attacks back to victim one. During this scuffle, Gatke, who also had her dog with her during the incident, instructed the canine to attack both victims. During the altercation, the dog would go from attacking and biting the victims to biting Gatke.

Eventually, during the struggle, the defendant bit down on victim one’s ring finger, nearly severing the finger, which was hanging on by skin. Hearing victim one’s cries, victim two exited the vehicle to help, leaving the third Samaritan inside on the phone with law enforcement who was enroute. Gatke, upon hearing the sirens of first responders, began to tear off her clothes and yell that the victims were trying to rape her before fleeing back into the water of the canal.

Deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and obtained statements from both victims, as well as the third witness. Law enforcement located Gatke hiding in the brush by the waterline and took her into custody. Her dog was safely secured by law enforcement.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Elizabeth Colombrito and Kevin Davis.

Published on 02/26/2026.

(Citrus County, FL) Today, 37-year-old Dwann Demetrius Ross Jr. was sentenced to Life in prison. Ross was found guilty last month of Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm for the death of 33-year-old Traske C. Johnson, who was gunned down outside his business.

“Today’s life sentence ensures this defendant will never again have the opportunity to harm another innocent person,” said Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter Forgie. “While no sentence can undo the pain caused by this senseless murder, this outcome delivers justice and holds the defendant fully accountable for taking a life.”

Ross’ charge stems from the Colonial Plaza shooting that took place on May 28, 2024, in Inverness, Florida. Deputies from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to the plaza after it was reported that a shooting had occurred. Upon their arrival, deputies found the male victim, later identified as Traske C. Johnson, in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. Johnson was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The defendant, Dwann D. Ross Jr., was identified on scene and quickly detained by deputies. Detectives from the CCSO Criminal Investigations Division arrived shortly after to begin their investigation. While speaking with the defendant, he claimed self-defense, alleging the victim as the aggressor.

Evidence collected during the investigation revealed that both men, who operated separate businesses within Colonial Plaza, had been involved in a brief physical altercation. During this confrontation, Ross retrieved a handgun and shot Johnson several times.

Further investigation into the events leading up to the shooting revealed that Ross and the victim had a heated text exchange. Investigators learned through various messages and witness testimony that the defendant was upset with the victim for telling a female companion that the defendant was romantically involved with multiple women. After being presented with this evidence and interviewed by detectives, Ross was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Blake Shore and Kevin Davis.

Published on 2/26/2026.

(Lake County, FL) Today, the Office of State Attorney Bill Gladson for the Fifth Judicial Circuit announces the sentencing of 29-year-old Austin Hill. Hill was found guilty by a jury last week of Premeditated First-Degree Murder with a Firearm for the 2023 murder of 39-year-old Wseni Laguerre. Following the defendant’s conviction, Judge Cary F. Rada sentenced Hill to Life in prison.

On January 30, 2023, the Eustis Police Department received a call for service in reference to a reported shooting at a residence off Palm Avenue in Eustis, Florida. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, Wseni Laguerre, with multiple gunshot wounds lying in the driveway of the home. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Officials on scene began speaking with a witness who indicated they were standing outside with the victim when another male, who said his name was “Lil Jake,” walked up to the pair and asked for a lighter. When the victim handed the lighter over, the male asked the victim if his name was “Haitian Black,” to which the victim responded yes.

The witness further stated that at this time, the man pulled out a firearm and shot the victim multiple times before fleeing. On scene, investigators were able to collect multiple spent shell casings as evidence, as well as a general description of the defendant from the witness.

During their investigation, officials received a tip indicating that Hill was the shooter. Detectives followed up on this lead, obtaining critical evidence that placed Hill at the scene of the shooting and positively identified him as the shooter. Investigators were further able to obtain the firearm that was used during the shooting and matched the gun to the spent shell casings from the scene.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Kenneth Nunnelley and Rachel Jones. Thank you to the Eustis Police Department for their diligent work in this case.

Published on 2/12/2026.

(Hernando County, FL) Today, the Office of State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit announces the conviction of 45-year-old Andrew Paul Johnson on charges related to his 2025 arrest. In the courtroom of Judge Stephen E. Toner, Johnson was found guilty of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of a Victim less than 12 years of age, Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of a Victim 12 years of age or older but less than 16 years of age, two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition, and Transmission of Material Harmful to a Minor by Electronic Device. Johnson will be sentenced at a later date but faces a 25-year minimum-mandatory sentence, with exposure of up to Life in prison.

In July of 2025, deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Brooksville in reference to a sex offense. When law enforcement arrived on scene, they were informed by the complainant that two juvenile victims stated they were both inappropriately touched by Johnson. Furthermore, the complainant provided deputies with a cell phone found in possession of the first victim, who indicated Johnson had provided the device to talk to them.

Additionally, authorities observed numerous messages on a computer from the Discord application between one of the victims and Johnson that were sexually explicit in nature. Deputies photographed the inappropriate images and communications. In the messages, Johnson attempted to have the victim download another application for a more private conversation and encouraged the victim to delete their messages afterwards.

Law enforcement and You Thrive Child Advocacy Center’s child protective team conducted interviews with both victims. The first victim recounted specific details of events, as well as various locations where these acts occurred. The victim disclosed that some incidents occurred in the presence of the second victim. The victim further advised that Johnson would buy the victim various gifts and food in an attempt to keep the victim from reporting him. The victim stated the defendant once said to never tell anyone, due to the fact that he would get into trouble.

During the interviews with the second victim, the victim disclosed several instances of inappropriate touching by the defendant and even corroborated statements made by the first victim.

Assistant State Attorneys Kasey Whitson and Rob Lewis successfully prosecuted this case.

Published on 02/11/2026.

(Sumter County, FL) In the courtroom of Judge Mary P. Hatcher, jurors found 48-year-old Brian Keith Winton, of Bushnell, guilty on all counts. Winton was taken into custody to await his sentencing pending a presentence investigation.

Winton was charged and convicted of three counts of Sexual Battery upon a Child under 12 years of age and four counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child Victim less than 12 years of age.

Winton was arrested in October of 2023 following a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office investigation into possible sexual offenses involving two minor children.

Both victims disclosed to authorities during two separate interviews that the defendant had sexually battered them on numerous occasions over a period of four years, starting when the victims were as young as 10 years old. Probable cause was established for Winton’s arrest after each victim recounted specific occurrences and descriptive details to detectives.

After interviewing the two victims, detectives took Winton into custody, where he was transported to the Sheriff’s Office for an interview. After being read his Miranda rights, Winton admitted to sexually battering both victims.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Shelby Senn thanks to the diligent investigation conducted by Investigator Pam Warren of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Published on 02/06/2026.

(Marion County, FL) On Wednesday morning, February 4, 2026, Judge Peter M. Brigham sentenced 45-year-old Michael Alton McMasters to twenty Life sentences in the Florida Department of Corrections. Back in December of 2025, a jury found McMasters guilty of twenty felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography.

The case against McMasters developed in January of 2024, when law enforcement officials at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating an online user had uploaded files containing apparent child pornography.

During their investigation, officials were able to determine that the defendant was the owner of the account. Detectives responded to McMasters’ residence off Southwest 30th Terrace, where they made contact with the defendant, who was residing in a camper trailer on the property.

In speaking with McMasters, detectives revealed the reason for their investigation. McMasters denied any knowledge of child sex abuse material being uploaded before refusing to answer any further questions from officials. McMasters was taken into custody, and multiple devices from within the home were seized as evidence.

An MCSO Digital Forensic Technician completed a forensic exam of the defendant’s devices and located the aforementioned files.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Samantha Wahba and Drew Brandies.

Published on 02/06/2026.

(Marion County, FL) On Friday, January 23, 2026, jurors rendered a guilty verdict in the courtroom of Judge Peter M. Brigham during the trial of 58-year-old Scott Alan Chamness. Chamness was found guilty as charged for the offenses of Burglary of a Conveyance with an Assault and Battery on a Person 65 Years of Age or Older.

Chamness was remanded into custody to await his sentencing pending a pre-sentence investigation.

On August 17, 2024, the Dunnellon Police Department responded to a reported road rage incident at the Murphy Oil gas station located off North Williams Street in Dunnellon, Florida.

According to the elderly victim, the incident began at a nearby traffic light when the victim honked their vehicle horn after another driver failed to proceed on a green light. When the victim turned into the Murphy Oil gas station and stopped at a fuel pump, the driver, later identified as Chamness, followed.

Store surveillance footage showed Chamness pull directly behind the victim’s vehicle before exiting his vehicle and aggressively approaching the victim’s driver’s side door. Chamness then opened the door, physically grabbed the victim, and began yelling at the victim regarding the horn.

As the confrontation escalated and the victim was unable to free themself, the victim attempted to reach for their firearm. In response, Chamness climbed on top of the victim, who remained inside the vehicle, and began choking the victim.

The attack ended only after Chamness’s passenger and a bystander intervened. Chamness then returned to his vehicle and fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. A license plate number was obtained for the vehicle Chamness was driving. Law enforcement tracked down the defendant shortly after, where he was arrested and charged.

Assistant State Attorney James Moody successfully prosecuted this case.

Published on 01/26/2026.