GATES SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL BATTERY OF A CHILD
(Marion County, FL) Today, State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit announces a guilty verdict in the case against 43-year-old Donald Ronald Gates III, of Ocala, Florida. On April 9, 2026, a jury found Gates guilty of Human Trafficking of a Child for Commercial Sexual Activity of a Child, Lewd or Lascivious Molestation […]
MENDEZ CONVICTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
(Lake County, FL) On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, a jury found 41-year-old Xavier Mendez guilty of twelve felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Judge Brian J. Welke ordered Mendez into custody to await his sentencing hearing. In July of 2024, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) received a cyber tip from the National […]
COBB CONVICTED IN FATAL DUI CASE
(Marion County, FL) Thursday afternoon, jurors rendered their verdict in the case against 32-year-old Justin Cobb, who tragically took the life of 75-year-old Elfriede Meyer. Jurors found Cobb guilty on all three counts, including Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Manslaughter, and two counts of Driving Under the Influence with Serious Bodily Injury. “Our thoughts remain […]
GUILTY VERDICT AND SENTENCE IN LAKE COUNTY SEXUAL BATTERY CASE
(Lake County, FL) On Monday, 43-year-old Ivan Rodriguez Pagan was sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by 5 years of probation. Pagan was found guilty back in January on all charges, including two counts of Sexual Battery upon a person 12-18 Years of Age, Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child Victim, Indecent, Lewd, […]
JEROEN COOMBS CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER OF PAISLEY BROWN
(Marion County, FL) Today, State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit announces the grand jury indictment of 32-year-old Jeroen Jarrel Coombs of Citra, FL. A grand jury was convened to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to charge Coombs for the murder of 3-year-old Paisley Brown and the abuse of four additional child […]
MARION MAN FOUND GUILTY OF DOMESTIC BATTERY BY STRANGULATION
(Marion County, FL) Today, the Office of State Attorney Bill Gladson for the Fifth Judicial Circuit announces a guilty verdict in the case against 38-year-old Kevin Thomas McDonough. After the one-day jury trial on March 24, 2026, jurors found McDonough guilty of Domestic Battery by Strangulation. McDonough was sentenced to five years in the Florida […]
BUSHNELL MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES IN CHILD SEXUAL BATTERY CASE
(Sumter County, FL) Yesterday, Judge Mary P. Hatcher sentenced 49-year-old Brian Keith Winton to seven Life sentences in the Florida Department of Corrections and designated Winton a Sexual Predator. 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 […]
DEFENDANT FOUND GUILTY OF CHILD MOLESTATION AND SHOWING OBSCENE MATERIAL TO A MINOR
(Lake County, FL) The Office of State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit announces that on March 18, 2026, in a Lake County courtroom, jurors found 63-year-old Manuel Ramon Lebron guilty of two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child, one count of Showing Obscene Material to a Minor, and three […]
MAN CONVICTED OF FRAUDULENT SIMULATION OF LEGAL PROCESS INVOLVING ELECTED OFFICIALS
(Marion County, FL) Last week, jurors found 58-year-old Manes Pierre guilty of Fraudulent Simulation of a Legal Process and False Statement to the Department of State. Pierre was taken into custody on no bond following his conviction to await sentencing. Pierre was originally arrested in 2021 after investigators uncovered a fraudulent lien unlawfully filed with […]
MARION OAKS TEEN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IN 2023 CASE
(Marion County, FL) Today, the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office announces the guilty verdict of 16-year-old Kydris Jackson for the 2023 murder of 19-year-old Griffin Smith. Jackson was found guilty of Second-degree Murder with a Firearm. The investigation began on December 2, 2023, when the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) received a call around […]