AGUILAR SENTENCED TO LIFE IN DEATH OF MASCOTTE FATHER
(Lake County, FL) Today, after a myriad of victim impact statements were delivered before the court, followed by both the state and defense presenting final arguments, Judge Cary F. Rada sentenced 35-year-old Alexander Aguilar to Life in prison without the possibility of parole for the death of 35-year-old Juan Ramon Cruz. “I did something no […]
61-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO SUPPLIED DRUGS TO MINOR FOUND GUILTY OF CHILD SEX OFFENSE CHARGES
(Marion County, FL) Wednesday, a jury found 61-year-old Terry Franklin Pennington guilty of three counts of Lewd and Lascivious Battery of a Child 12 Years of Age but less than 16 Years of Age and one count of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child 12 Years of Age but less than 16 Years of […]
GUILTY VERDICT FOR LEESBURG MAN IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE
(Lake County, FL) Yesterday, in the courtroom of Judge James R. Baxley, jurors found 36-year-old John Tharan Knotts guilty on all charges. Knotts was charged with 19 felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography (10 or more images). “With this conviction, we take another child predator off our streets,” said Chief Assistant State Attorney Walter […]
THOMAS FOUND GUILTY IN SOLICITATION OF MINOR FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY CASE
(Marion County, FL) In the courtroom of Judge Peter M. Brigham, jurors found 56-year-old Dermon Kenneth Thomas guilty after deliberating yesterday. Thomas was convicted of Traveling to Meet a Minor, Soliciting a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct, and Using a Two-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony. Thomas was arrested in July of 2025, following […]
DEATH PENALTY SOUGHT AGAINST LAKE COUNTY MAN INDICTED FOR CAPITAL OFFENSE AGAINST CHILD
(Lake County, FL) Today, State Attorney Bill Gladson of the Fifth Judicial Circuit announces the grand jury indictment of 41-year-old Schubert Navarroza Macarat for crimes against a minor child. Given the severity of the crime and its impact on the victim, the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office has filed a notice that it intends […]
HERNANDO MAN FOUND GUILTY OF DRUG TRAFFICKING
(Hernando County, FL) On Monday, May 18, 2026, 56-year-old Thomas Roger Chrystie was found guilty of Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Paraphernalia. Jurors deliberated for 14 minutes, after hearing the testimony of law enforcement with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), expert testimony from analysts with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and examining […]
SCHROER FOUND GUILTY OF AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER OF A CHILD
(Marion County, FL) Yesterday, May 14, 2026, jurors delivered their verdict in the 2019 death of 2-month-old Wailan Roy Schroer. After reviewing irrefutable evidence and listening to expert testimony, jurors found 43-year-old Melissa Waiman Schroer guilty of Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child. Schroer will be sentenced on June 29, 2026, by Judge Barbara Kissner. “It’s […]
MENDEZ SENTENCED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE
(Lake County, FL) Forty-one-year-old Xavier Mendez, of Groveland, was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being found guilty by a jury last month of 12 counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Upon his release, Mendez will be required to register as a Sexual Offender and complete four years of probation. In July of 2024, […]
AGUILAR FOUND GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AFTER SHOOTING
(Lake County, FL) Last Wednesday, April 22, 2026, jurors found 35-year-old Alexander Aguilar guilty of Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm and Aggravated Battery with a Firearm. Aguilar’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 15, 2026, at 9 a.m. The charges stem from an incident back in June of 2019, in which Mascotte Police Department officers […]
CITRUS MAN INDICTED FOR MURDER OF MOTHER’S PARAMOUR
(Citrus County, FL) Monday, April 27, 2026, 37-year-old William Michael Larsen Sr. of Floral City, Florida, was indicted by a grand jury in the death of 67-year-old Bryant Milo Leggett. A grand jury was convened to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to charge Larsen with the murder of Leggett and the subsequent crimes relating […]