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(Lake County, FL) Earlier this morning, 26-year-old Ian Anselmo appeared before the Honorable Judge Brian Welke to be sentenced for the killing of his pregnant stepmother back in 2019. Judge Welke sentenced Anselmo to Life in prison.

“Today, we hold accountable a defendant who chose to take the life of his pregnant stepmother in 2019. This tragic case is a sobering reminder of the consequences of violence and the importance of protecting the vulnerable,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “Our thoughts remain with the victims and their families as we seek to ensure that such acts of cruelty are met with the full force of the law.”

In April of this year, Anselmo was found guilty by a Lake County jury for the fatal strangulation of his expectant stepmother, 39-year-old Sue Ellen Anselmo. Ian Anselmo was charged and found guilty of Murder in the Second-Degree and Killing an Unborn Child by Injury to the Mother.

The tragic incident took place on March 13, 2019, when Anselmo strangled his stepmother at the Greenwood Cemetery. Law enforcement officers received a 9-1-1 call in reference to the incident and arrived at the scene to find Sue with a cord draped over her shoulder inside her vehicle. Anselmo was also present at the scene.

Despite life-saving efforts, Sue passed away five days later at Orlando Regional Medical Center due to her injuries. Anselmo, while present at the crime scene, stated to officials that he guessed he had strangled Sue. He further indicated he didn’t remember committing the crime but did remember the argument the two had just prior.

In a document filed on September 9, 2020, Anselmo’s defense attorney revealed plans to pursue an insanity defense based on Anselmo’s alleged state during the incident. However, after jurors reviewed the extensive evidence and listened to testimony presented during the trial, they determined Anselmo was sane during the time of the attack and was aware of the ramifications of his actions.

Assistant State Attorneys Nicholas Camuccio and Thomas Wieczorek successfully prosecuted the case.

Published 10/18/2024.

(Citrus County, FL) Earlier this morning, 58-year-old Robin Joanna Bell was sentenced after being found guilty by a jury in June for stealing her ex-husband’s retirement funds. The Honorable Judge Joel D. Fritton sentenced Bell to 25 years for Grand Theft over 100,000, 20 years on the two counts of Fraudulent Use of Personal Identification Information, 20 years for Witness Tampering, and 5 years for Forgery of a Public Record. Her sentences are set to be served concurrently.

Additionally, Bell was ordered to pay the victim restitution in the amount of $153,000 and will be placed on probation for 15 years following her prison term.

“In today’s sentencing, we acknowledge the serious consequences of financial crimes that erode trust and devastate lives. The defendant’s actions have stolen not only her ex-husband’s retirement savings but also his sense of security after a lifetime of dedicated service to his community,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “While justice has been served, it is important to recognize that no prison sentence can restore what has been taken from him. This case serves as a reminder that betrayal, especially by those we once trusted, carries significant repercussions.”

Back in July of 2021, the victim reported to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) that their ex-wife, Bell, had committed fraud by filing forged documents to obtain retirement benefits against a court order. In 2015, when the victim and Bell were finalizing their divorce, Bell requested half of the victim’s retirement since the victim was currently retired. At the time, Bell was not retired, however, the victim was and was currently receiving benefits.

The victim agreed to the request, only on the premise that they would then also receive half of Bell’s retirement when she officially retires. A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) was filed and the judge finalized the terms, with each legally entitled to half the retirement of the other party. With this new court order, Bell began to receive half of the victim’s retirement benefits.

By December 2020, the victim received notice that Bell had retired. As a result, the victim contacted the Florida Retirement System (FRS) to begin receiving half of the benefits. To their surprise, they were informed that FRS had received a document with the victim’s signature on it, signing over all rights to the account to Bell. Additionally, there was another document provided by Bell to FRS for the same purpose, that was not notarized but did have a witness signature. The victim then contacted law enforcement to file a report.

CCSO Detective Thomas Dowling was assigned to investigate the case and discovered that the notary stamp on the document was fraudulent. Despite attempts to contact the suspect, Bell, and her attorney, no response was received. Detective Dowling sought assistance from Agent Bruce Arnold of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, who located a witness that confirmed the document was forged.

While out on bond, Bell attempted to have the victim drop the charges and was subsequently charged with tampering.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Patsey Jacobs and Tara Hartman.

Published on 10/16/2024.

(Lake County, FL) Today, State Attorney Bill Gladson announces the grand jury indictment of 34-year-old Tyshael Elise Martin.   

A grand jury was convened to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to charge Martin for her role in the June 17 death of 9-year-old Jamaria Faith Sessions. The grand jury returned a true bill of indictment for the following charges:

·MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (CAPITAL) 782.04(1)(a)

· AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER OF A CHILD 782.07(3)

·AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE 827.03(1)(a) and 827.03(2)(a)

Martin remains in custody on no bond status in an area detention facility.

Published on 09/24/2024.

(Sumter County, FL) Friday, September 20, 2024, 60-year-old Robert Allen Gerber was found guilty by a jury of Failing to Comply with Sex Offender Reporting Requirements. Gerber, a registered Sexual Offender, failed to re-register as part of his sexual offender registration requirements of Florida Statute 943.0435.

“When a sex offender fails to comply with registration requirements, it poses a significant risk to public safety,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “These laws are in place to ensure law enforcement can track and monitor offenders to prevent repeat crimes. Compliance is crucial to provide an additional layer of protection for our community.”

In April of this year, Detective Smith with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office received an alert through the Florida Sexual Offender and Predator Database from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that an offender had missed their reregistration. That offender was identified as the defendant.

Gerber, who had originally moved down to the great state of Florida from New Jersey, was currently on probation under the Florida Department of Corrections supervision in an Interstate Compact agreement from New Jersey. He had been placed on felony probation and required to register as a Sexual Offender due to his 2023 conviction for Possession of Child Sexual Assault Material.

Gerber initially registered per the requirements when he first moved to Florida. He was instructed he would be required to register twice a year – once during his birth month of September and 6 months after that in March. He registered in March and was reminded and given formal paperwork to come back in September to reregister. Gerber failed to meet this requirement.

During Detective Smith’s investigation, she was unable to locate any documentation or incarceration reports prohibiting Gerber from complying with his statutory requirements to register.

Gerber was sentenced to 30 months in the Florida Department of Corrections. After finishing his sentence, he will be transported back to New Jersey to face additional charges for his probation violation.  

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Shelby Senn and Sonny McCathran.

Published on 09/23/2024.

(Marion County, FL) On September 18, 2024, jurors delivered their verdict in the 2018 murder case of 47-year-old Anthony Brady.  After reviewing compelling evidence and listening to witness testimony, jurors found 39-year-old Brandon Lee Brown guilty of Second-Degree Murder.

Brown was additionally convicted of Attempted Manslaughter, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and Failure to Appear.

“Justice has been served for the family of Anthony Brady thanks to the jury’s verdict,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “While this decision still cannot bring back the victim, it does ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable for his heinous crimes.”

On May 22, 2018, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies responded to a call for service in reference to a shooting that had just occurred off SE 145^th Place in Summerfield. Upon arrival, deputies located two victims with gunshot wounds.

The first victim, Anthony Brady, was observed to have a gunshot wound to the upper thigh area. He was trauma alerted in critical condition to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased a week later. The second victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to their back extremities, was also transported for medical treatment but survived.

During the investigation, officials were able to determine that Brown had traveled to the residence where the victims were, engaging in a verbal altercation before shooting them both. The second victim was able to positively identify Brown as the shooter due to prior altercations and run-ins with the defendant.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Janine Nixon.

Published on 09/20/2024.

(Citrus County, FL) Earlier today, 66-year-old Michael Regalski was sentenced to 65 years in the Florida Department of Corrections after jurors found him guilty back in August. Regalski was convicted of three counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Firearm, one count of Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle, and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence. He was sentenced to 25 years on the first count, 20 years on the second, and 20 years on the third to be served consecutively.

“Today’s sentencing reaffirms the justice sought for the victims and their families involved in this case,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “The defendant’s dangerous actions in response to a minor annoyance led to a tragic and senseless act of violence that he will now have 65 years to reflect upon.”

The charges stem from an incident back in April of 2023, in which Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call for service regarding a shooting that had occurred.  When officials arrived on scene, they located an adult victim, along with two juvenile victims on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV). The victims indicated they were riding on the vehicle in the area when they heard two loud noises and pulled over, thinking the vehicle was malfunctioning.

While stopped, one of the juveniles indicated they felt pain in their lower abdomen, and upon reaching down immediately observed they were bleeding. CCSO officials and other medical first responders were able to stabilize the juvenile, who was then airlifted to a hospital for treatment. 

CCSO’s Major Crimes Detective Roscoe Watts responded to the scene to investigate. During this time, he made contact with Regalski, whose home was just south of where the incident occurred. According to Regalski, he had seen the ATV with the three victims pass by his property previously while he was outside his garage. He said he had prior issues with the utility vehicles passing by his property loudly at all hours of the night.

Regalski further admitted when he saw the vehicle passing by his property the last time, he fired his Glock 40-caliber handgun at the vehicle in an attempt to deter the rides from driving by his property. When questioned as to what he did after firing at the utility vehicle, Regalski stated he secured his firearm before entering his residence to wash his clothes and shower.

He then told Detective Watts after he showered, he viewed his home’s video surveillance camera footage of the incident. He claimed nothing was captured on the footage, but still decided to erase the footage after viewing it.

Assistant State Attorneys Kaitlyn Mannis and Blake Shore prosecuted this case.

Published on 09/19/2024.

(Marion County, FL) In the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Timothy McCourt, jurors found 51-year-old Brian Patrick McCoy guilty on all charges. McCoy was charged with one count of Felony Capital Sexual Battery upon a Child under 12 Years of Age, one count of Direct or Promote Sexual Performance of a Child, and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography.  

After being found guilty, Judge McCourt sentenced McCoy to Life in State Prison for the sexual battery charge. McCoy was also consecutively sentenced to 15 years for the sexual performance charge, and then 5 years respectively for each of the possession of child pornography charges.

“Crimes committed against children tear apart the very foundation of trust and hope that is essential for their future,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “We commend Sheriff Woods and his detectives for their dedication and pursuit of justice in this case. We hope this sentencing can offer a glimmer of hope for the victim and their family, so they can find the strength to heal.”

McCoy was arrested in June of 2019 following a Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) investigation after law enforcement officials 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 determined McCoy, a registered sex offender, was the owner of the account. After obtaining a search warrant, detectives responded to McCoy’s residence, where they made contact with McCoy and seized his cellular device. While interviewing McCoy, he admitted to law enforcement about viewing and saving files of child pornography.

An MCSO Digital Forensic Technician was able to complete a forensic exam of the defendant’s device and locate the aforementioned files. The victim in this case was identified in various videos contained on the defendant’s device. 

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Shanae Pickens and Sasha Kidney.

Published on 09/11/2024.

(Lake County, FL) Yesterday, the Honorable Judge Heidi Davis sentenced 38-year-old Jason Jameel Ganga to 30 Years in the Florida Department of Corrections. Ganga’s sentencing carries a 25 Year Minimum Mandatory.

Earlier this year a Lake County jury found Ganga guilty on charges of Attempted Second-degree Murder, Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle, and Aggravated Battery.

“The defendant’s crime was a brutal attempt on an innocent woman’s life, a clear disregard for the sanctity of human life, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of that crime,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney.

Back in March of 2023, the Mount Dora Police Department (MDPD) responded to a reported shooting incident in the area of Pine Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found a woman in a 2010 Nissan passenger vehicle, suffering from at least two gunshot wounds. Officials on scene observed two bullet holes through the driver’s side window of the vehicle.

Medical treatment was rendered to the victim on scene, who was later transported to a local hospital. The victim was still responsive and able to identify her assailant as “Jason” to authorities. During MDPD’s investigation, detectives were able to later confirm the shooter as Jason Jameel Ganga.

As officers approached the residence, they heard voices and discovered an individual outside, who indicated Ganga was inside the home. MDPD officers located Ganga hiding under a bed. As they attempted to remove him from under the bed, they observed him holding a handgun to his temple.

The weapon, however, lacked a magazine and therefore was not loaded. Deputies were able to secure the firearm and take Ganga into custody. Ganga, who showed signs of alcohol intoxication, refused to cooperate with MDPD’s questioning. A search of the home revealed multiple firearms, including handguns and rifles, with ammunition scattered throughout the premises.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Gabriel Lozano and Eddie Moffitt.

Published on 09/10/2024.

(Hernando County, FL) Last week, in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Daniel B. Merritt, jurors found 43-year-old Joshua Reginald Velez guilty of two counts of Sexual Battery upon a Child under 12 years of age by a Person in Familial Custody.

“Justice was served today because a brave child found the courage to speak up, and a trusted adult chose to listen and act,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “Protecting our children requires the vigilance and commitment of everyone in our community. We are grateful for the trust placed in us to bring this predator to justice.”

Velez was originally arrested in December of 2020, following a Hernando County Sheriff’s Office investigation after the young victim disclosed to an adult the abuse committed by Velez. The adult then contacted law enforcement to report the crime.

Officials made contact with the child who advised of numerous incidents of sexual abuse by Velez, spanning over three different states.  Detectives launched a thorough investigation, which revealed Velez had been abusing the victim since the victim was 10 years old.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Angelina Rodeo and Kasey Whitson.

Published on 09/09/2024.

(Hernando, FL) On Friday, August 23, 2024, after deliberating for roughly 90 minutes, jurors returned a guilty verdict in the case against 31-year-old Isaac Troy Lemons. Lemons was convicted of Manslaughter and Sale of a Controlled Substance. After the verdict was delivered, the Honorable Judge Daniel B. Merritt ordered Lemons into custody to await his sentencing hearing which is scheduled for November 7, 2024.

“This case is another example of a young life lost due to illicit drugs and the greed of others to make a profit,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “The defendant’s actions in dealing these deadly substances demonstrate the severe disregard of human life but also added another layer of danger to an already perilous situation.” 

Lemons’ case comes as a result of his 2015 arrest linked to the death of 18-year-old Dylan Joseph Thornton. Back in September of that year, Dylan went missing after his friends hosted an 18^th birthday party for him.

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) was contacted in reference to Dylan being missing. Over the next couple of days, an extensive search took place in Spring Hill where Dylan was last seen. Tragically, on the morning of September 15, 2015, the significantly decomposed body of Dylan was found along some dunes south of the Duke Energy transfer station. 

The Medical Examiner who performed the autopsy on Dylan ruled his cause of death as Alpha-PVP toxicity, the substance referred to as “Flakka,” a dangerous drug that is similar to the street drug commonly known as bath salts. HCSO’s missing persons case then turned into a suspicious death investigation.

Detective Dustin Adkins was assigned the case and learned that a DJ had been arranged to play at the birthday party. It was also discovered that the DJ, later identified as Lemons, was asked to bring some “Molly” to the party, which is a street drug containing amphetamines.  Shortly after his arrival, Lemons sold a quantity of “Molly,” later determined to actually be “Flakka,” which was then distributed to others, including Dylan. Later that evening, both Dylan and his friend left the party under the influence and eventually parted ways after believing they were being followed while in their disoriented state.

This case went to trial in the summer of 2021 and resulted in a hung jury.  The re-trial commenced on Monday, August 19, 2024, with jurors returning the verdict on Friday. Thank you to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office investigators involved in this case, as well as District 5 Medical Examiners Dr. Wolf and Dr. Goldberger whose testimony helped ensure a guilty conviction.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Robert Lewis and Melissa Underwood.

Published on 08/27/2024.