Office of The State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Florida
Serving the Citizens of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties
Office of The State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Florida
Serving the Citizens of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties

JACKSON FOUND GUILTY OF BATTERY ON LEO DURING BAR DISTURBANCE

(Marion County, FL) After a jury trial this week with irrefutable body-worn camera footage, 30-year-old Devin Jacquan Jackson was found guilty of Felony Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer related to his 2023 arrest at a local bar in downtown Ocala, FL. “The defendant couldn’t negate the video footage presented in this case. Fortunately for […]

SECOND DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR MURDER OF UMATILLA MAN

(Lake County, FL) Today, 41-year-old Marvin Ellison Jr. was found guilty of First-degree Murder by jurors after trial for his involvement in the 2022 death of 31-year-old Antwain Jamar Hart. After his conviction, Judge James R. Baxley sentenced Ellison to Life in the Florida Department of Corrections. Ellison’s conviction comes just a week after his […]

WOMAN CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING ENOUGH FENTANYL TO KILL NEARLY 10,000 PEOPLE

(Citrus County, FL) Last week, in the courtroom of Judge Joel D. Fritton, 41-year-old Heather Lynne Duarte-Wright was found guilty of Trafficking in Fentanyl and Possession of Paraphernalia. With this conviction, two-time convicted felon Duarte-Wright faces the possibility of Life behind bars as a Habitual Felony Offender.   “It only takes two milligrams of Fentanyl […]

UNDRAY BENSON SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR UMATILLA MURDER

(Lake County, FL) Yesterday, 53-year-old Undray Benson was found guilty of First-degree Murder during a bench trial in the 2022 death of 31-year-old Antwain Jamar Hart. After his conviction, Judge James R. Baxley sentenced Benson to Life in prison as mandated by Florida law. “The actions of this defendant were calculated, deliberate, and devoid of […]

DEFENDANT FOUND GUILTY OF MULTIPLE SEX CRIMES AGAINST CHILD

(Marion County, FL) Yesterday, in the courtroom of Judge Barbara Kissner-Kwatkosky, 40-year-old Jerrell Lamont Smith was found guilty on all charges related to his 2023 arrest. Smith was convicted of three counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of a Victim less than 12 years of age, one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of a […]

MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

(Citrus County, FL) Yesterday in the courthouse of the Honorable Judge Joel D. Fritton, 31-year-old Gavin Lee Minden was sentenced to 25 years in the Florida Department of Corrections after pleading in his 2024 attempted murder case. Under Florida’s 10-20-Life law, Minden will serve his sentence day for day with no time gained or the […]

BATSON SENTENCED TO THREE DECADES IN 2023 BURGLARY CASE

(Citrus County, FL) This morning, the Honorable Judge Richard A. Howard sentenced Habitual Felony Offender, 62-year-old James Darryl Batson to 30 years in prison. Batson was found guilty by jurors last week for the 2023 burglary and attempted burglary of multiple businesses. Batson was convicted of Burglary of a Structure while Masked, Petit Theft, Criminal […]

HAMILL FOUND GUILTY OF MURDERING 91-YEAR-OLD MAN

(Lake County, FL) Yesterday evening, jurors delivered their verdict in the 2023 murder case of 91-year-old John Taylor.  After a brief deliberation of the evidence presented and expert testimony by Florida Department of Law Enforcement analysts, jurors found 46-year-old Bryan Matthew Hamill guilty of First-Degree Murder and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle. “Our hearts go out […]

THREE INDICTED IN CITRUS HOMICIDE CASE

(Citrus County, FL) State Attorney Bill Gladson announces the indictment of three defendants for home invasion robbery and murder. 34-year-old Shawn Michael Hutton, 35-year-old Andre Douglas Gore, and 28-year-old Jason Kyle Kirchaine, have all been indicted for First Degree Murder for their roles in the December 19, 2024, death of 44-year-old Aaron Michael Kyle. All […]

DEFENDANT FOUND GUILTY OF GRAND THEFT AUTO

(Hernando County, FL) Yesterday, a jury found 43-year-old Michael Corey Bowser-Jones guilty as charged for Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle. “The proactive efforts of our law enforcement partners led to the quick arrest of this defendant,” said Walter Forgie, Fifth Judicial Circuit Chief Assistant State Attorney. “The evidence gathered through their investigation also ensured […]