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(Marion County, FL) On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, 53-year-old Thomas Gibson III was found guilty of one Felony count of Aggravated Abuse of an Elderly Person or Disabled Adult.  

After Gibson was adjudicated guilty, the Honorable Judge Timothy T. McCourt sentenced Gibson to 30 Years in the Florida Department of Corrections.  

“Brutally attacking a disabled adult is one of the lowest acts of violence you can commit,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “The victim in this case was fortunate to escape with their life and I thank the jury for their service in this case.”

On July 30, 2022, Dunnellon Police Department officers responded to the Rainbow Garden Apartments regarding a battery. Upon arrival, responding officers noticed obvious injuries to the victim, who had a large laceration to their upper lip and a bruised, swollen eye. There were also large blood stains on the victim’s shirt and throughout the residence.

The victim, who was clearly upset and afraid, told law enforcement that they had been in a verbal argument with Gibson. During the argument, Gibson became angry and pushed the victim.  At that time, the victim told Gibson to leave but he refused. Both individuals separated and went to bed, waking up that following morning when the dispute continued.

It was during this verbal exchange that Gibson then began striking the victim repeatedly. The victim attempted to call 9-1-1 but was restrained by Gibson who then threatened to kill them. Eventually, after the altercation, the victim was able to get away from Gibson and contact the authorities. 

Gibson fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival, but he was apprehended three days later and booked into the Marion County Jail.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Peter Sziklai.

Published on 07/19/2024.

(Lake County, FL) In the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Cary F. Rada, jurors found 53-year-old Kenlin Anthony Bougouneau guilty on all three counts and sentenced him to 15 Years in the Florida Department of Corrections.  

“Law enforcement officers face every situation imaginable,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “They respond to calls for service, not knowing all the details and having to make split-second decisions. In this case, they had to subdue an individual who was out of control and posed a danger to others.” 

Bougouneau was convicted, after a jury trial, of two counts Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and one count Resist Law Enforcement Officer with Violence.

In October of 2020, Bougouneau was arrested following a Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) investigation after officials responded to a call for service at a residence off Wilshire Road in Clermont.  

Deputies arrived on scene and observed Bougouneau aggressively striking multiple victims during a dispute. He was promptly cuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car while authorities investigated the disturbance.

A short time later, officials went to check on Bougouneau, who became irate and started to kick the law enforcement officers. After regaining control of him, deputies resecured Bougouneau and placed him under arrest, transporting him to the Lake County Jail.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Chelsey Omega and Edward Moffitt.  

Published on 07/18/2024.

(Sumter County, FL) Yesterday, 66-year-old Fredrick Leroy Connell was sentenced to Life in the Florida Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole.

Last week, on July 11, 2024, Sumter County jurors found Connell guilty of Sexual Battery upon a Person under Twelve Years of Age. Connell’s charge stems from his 2021 arrest, in which investigators revealed he sexually abused a child from 2013-2015.

“Acts like this will not go unpunished in our circuit,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “I commend this brave child for speaking up and telling a trusted adult what occurred. They have undoubtedly saved future victims from this predator.”

Back on September 30, 2021, it was reported to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) that Connell had sexually battered a child victim. School officials reported that a student made a disclosure of sexual abuse after a presentation held in the health class by E3 Family Solutions. The victim was interviewed by deputies for further investigation and the case was assigned to Inspector Pam Warren.

During the forensic interview at the Lake Sumter Children’s Advocacy Center, the victim recounted to authorities numerous instances of Connell sexually battering them, disclosing key details.  Inspector Warren interviewed the defendant, where he stated various information that coincided with the recount told by the victim, however, he denied all accusations of sexual battery occurring.

Inspector Warren interviewed multiple parties to the case and developed probable cause for the arrest of Connell. Connell was arrested on December 29, 2021, and transported to the Sumter County Detention Center.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Dan Geraghty and Sonny McCathran. A sincere thank you to Inspector Pam Warren and the Staff at the Lake-Sumter Children’s Advocacy Center for their work in this case, despite the challenges presented by the time-lapse that had occurred between the crime and when it was reported.

Published on 07/18/2024.

(Citrus County, FL) On July 12, 2024, a jury found 27-year-old Joshua Aaron Schuler guilty of one felony count of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child Less than 12 Years of Age and one count of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance.

After being found guilty, Schuler was ordered into custody to await his sentencing hearing which will take place on August 19, 2024.

“The complainant in this case helped save this child from any further harm,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “If you find evidence that a crime has been committed or believe someone is engaging in illegal acts, please report it immediately because every second counts in apprehending these types of predators.”

On September 17, 2022, deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) originally responded to a residence in Homosassa in reference to a call for service. Upon arrival, deputies were informed by the complainant that there was a video of Schuler molesting the victim, who was a five-year-old child.

The complainant stated the night prior, they had gone through the defendant’s phone and had located a video in the recently deleted file. The complainant went on to further advise that the video, timestamped September 3, 2022, at 1:32 a.m., depicted Schuler molesting the victim.

CCSO’s Special Victims Unit Detective Richey responded to investigate. After speaking with the complainant, Det. Richey made contact with Schuler. During their interview with him, Schuler denied the allegations but could not provide an explanation for the video. Officials subsequently arrested Schuler on a warrant for this case.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Kevin Davis.

Published on 07/17/2024.

(Lake County, FL) Yesterday, the Honorable Judge James R. Baxley sentenced Hezekiah Benjamin Jr. to 60 Years in the Florida Department of Corrections on his guilty conviction. Back in February of this year, a Lake County jury found Benjamin guilty on one count of Sexual Battery of a Victim under 18, and two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of a Child Under 16.

“I am extremely proud of our prosecutors for seeing this case to the end and securing a fitting sentence for this defendant who will no longer be able to prey upon innocent children,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney.

In May of 2021, it was reported to the Clermont Police Department (CPD) officials that Benjamin had sexually battered a 13-year-old child. Officials received a call reporting this information, where the caller advised the victim texted them, stating Benjamin was abusing them.

The victim was subsequently interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Leesburg for further investigation. At the center, the victim confirmed sending the text messages and informed investigators of the abuse committed by Benjamin, relaying vital details of the incidents. The victim further indicated they feared Benjamin.

Benjamin was then arrested on the warrant and booked into the Lake County Jail.

Assistant State Attorneys Kati Cosden and Gennady Gusak successfully prosecuted this case.

Published on 07/16/2024.

(Sumter County, FL) Today, in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Mary P. Hatcher, a jury was excused as the defendant in the case, 42-year-old Antoine Lamar Whitter, entered an open plea in his case. Whitter was charged and found guilty of Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possession of Cocaine.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2024, at 1 p.m.

“This case is just another example of our law enforcement partners’ keen observation and swift actions,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney.  “Thanks to their heightened awareness, we were able to prosecute another drug trafficker to keep them off our streets and clean up our community.”

Back in October of 2019, Whitter was arrested by Sumter County Sheriff’s Office deputies during a routine traffic stop. At around 3 a.m., SCSO Deputy Moore was assisting Deputy Hinderhofer with a traffic stop when she spotted a vehicle speeding near the northbound 321 exit of Interstate 75. Deputy Moore paced the vehicle traveling at 82 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone. The deputy activated her lights and proceeded to conduct a separate traffic stop.

When the law enforcement officer approached the driver, later identified as Whitter, the deputy indicated the reason for the stop.  A K-9 unit was deployed during the traffic stop. While conducting an exterior sniff of the vehicle, the K9 officer alerted on the vehicle for the presence of illicit narcotics.

At that time, K9 Deputy Garrity secured Whitter and his passenger from the vehicle so Deputy Moore could conduct a search. During the search, authorities located large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, and some cannabis. There was also a scale, along with a medium-sized box of baggies in the vehicle, leading deputies to believe the drugs were being packaged and sold.

When questioned about the martinis found inside the vehicle, Whitter declined to speak with officials. Deputies then conducted a search of Whitter, which revealed he had $2,670 in cash in his right front pocket. The money was in multiple denominations of $100, $50 and $20 bills, which are consistent with that of illicit drug transactions. As a result, Whitter was placed under arrest.

The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant State Attorneys Stephen Fern and Elizabeth Hart.

Published on 07/12/2024.

(Citrus County, FL) Early Thursday afternoon last week, 47-year-old Delia Marie Dean pleaded guilty to Second-Degree Murder and was sentenced to 20 Years in the Florida Department of Corrections. Dean’s plea comes after her 2022 arrest for murder via distribution of Fentanyl in the death of 48-year-old Jonathan Michael Bishop.

“This case represents the significant battle law enforcement faces when combating the opioid epidemic in our communities,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney.  “Thanks to recent legislative changes, both our office and our law enforcement partners have new tools to address the issue and hold defendants like this accountable for their roles in perpetuating this crisis.”

On April 20, 2022, deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to a residence off West Hudson Street in Inverness in reference to a death. Upon arrival, officials located Jonathan in his room, where he was pronounced deceased due to obvious signs of rigor mortis. After speaking with the decedent’s mother and witness on scene, it was determined that the decedent did not have any medical conditions that would cause his passing.

As investigators searched through Jonathan’s room, they located a white powdery substance, identified as Fentanyl, was discovered in his bathroom. The powder was field-tested and yielded a positive result for the presence of Fentanyl. The powder was collected for evidence and the decedent’s body was turned over to the medical examiner to determine the cause of death.

CCSO’s Major Crimes detectives and Tactical Impact Unit detectives continued to work collectively on this case and identified Dean as the primary suspect. On May 19, 2022, the toxicology report from the Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Jonathan’s cause of death as a combined drug toxicity of Fentanyl and alcohol.

Based on the findings of this case, along with the evidence collected and interviews conducted, an arrest warrant was issued and Dean was arrested on May 23, 2022.

The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant State Attorney Blake Shore.

Published on 07/01/2024.

(Citrus County, FL) Today, 24-year-old Jacqueline Jasmin Johnson-Cabrera pleaded guilty to First-Degree Murder in the death of Marion County Detention Deputy, 31-year-old Cory Schweitzer, and Armed Residential Burglary. Shortly after her plea, Cory Schweitzer’s sister delivered a victim impact statement before the court, detailing how Johnson-Cabrera’s actions will forever impact the family. Johnson-Cabrera was sentenced to Life in prison.

“On behalf of the men and women of my office who serve Marion County, I want to extend our sincerest thanks to Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast and his dedicated team. They investigated Cory’s death and quickly brought his murderer to justice. Today, Cory’s killer pled guilty and received life without the possibility of parole. While we continue to mourn his loss, knowing she is off the streets brings us some comfort. I personally want to thank State Attorney Bill Gladson and the 5th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office for ensuring this killer will never see freedom again,” said Billy Woods, Marion County Sheriff.

On August 19, 2022, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office’s communication center received a call in reference to a potential suicide. It was relayed to the communications officer that the victim, Cory, had an apparent gunshot wound and was not breathing. First responders arrived at the residence shortly thereafter and pronounced the victim deceased.

“Today’s life sentence reaffirms our unwavering commitment in seeking justice and holding offenders accountable for their crimes,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “While this sentence cannot bring back Cory, we hope it provides a measure of closure to the Schweitzer family and to Cory’s colleagues at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.”

CCSO Major Crimes Sergeant Thomas Dowling and Detective Roscoe Watts responded to investigate. As evidence was collected by Crime Scene Specialist Victoria Gerneth and analyzed, it became evident to investigators that this was not a suicide, but a murder coverup.  The medical examiner was requested to perform an autopsy on the decedent.

While investigating, officials were able to identify a suspect, later identified as Johnson-Cabrera, a former girlfriend of Cory. After receiving the medical examiner’s report and compiling the evidence collected from the scene and statements made during the investigation, a warrant was secured for the arrest of Johnson-Cabrera. On August 24, 2022, officials arrested Johnson-Cabrera and charged her with the murder of Cory.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Peter F. Magrino and Blake Shore.

Published on 06/28/2024.

(Citrus County, FL) Today, 63-year-old Frank Meyer was sentenced to 20 Years in the Florida Department of Corrections for his DUI Manslaughter conviction, which tragically took the life of 35-year-old Jennifer Bossert. Jurors found Meyer guilty on all three counts back in May, including Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Manslaughter, Driving Under the Influence with Serious Bodily Injury, and Driving Under the Influence with Property Damage. 

“While justice was served with this sentence, no imposed time could ever restore the irreversible loss of life – and that is the true tragedy,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “The consequences of driving while impaired are devastating and there is no excuse whatsoever.”

On June 11, 2022, shortly before 11 p.m., Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash that occurred on South Florida Avenue in Floral City. Once on scene, officials determined that the Hyundai, being driven by Meyer, made a left turn in front of the motorcycle that Jennifer was on, not yielding the right of way. Both occupants of the motorcycle were immediately transported for medical treatment.

A witness on scene told law enforcement officers that the motorcycle Jennifer was on, being driven by her husband, was traveling in a group of fellow motorcycle friends, leaving the Checkers in Inverness. Just prior to the crash, the witness stated the vehicle driven by Meyer turned directly into the path of the motorcycle Jennifer was on, ejecting both her and the driver.

During FHP’s investigation, Meyer stated to authorities that he was turning into the Liquor Plus store parking lot to purchase cigarettes. While questioning Meyer regarding the collision, FHP Troopers observed signs of impairment and determined that Meyer was under the influence.

Meyer then told officials he had drank beer at the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) earlier in the day. He agreed to perform field sobriety exercises and failed each exercise. He then consented to a breathalyzer which indicated his breath alcohol content to be 0.27. Meyer was placed under arrest for DUI.

On the afternoon of Sunday, June 13, 2022, doctors at the Ocala Regional Medical Center pronounced Jennifer deceased. Meyer was subsequently charged with DUI manslaughter in the death of Jennifer and serious bodily injury due to the injuries sustained by Jennifer’s husband during the crash.

Assistant State Attorneys Blake Shore and Kevin Davis diligently prosecuted this case.

Published on 06/28/2024.

(Marion County, FL) The Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office announces the guilty verdict in the trial of 27-year-old Devin Rashad Sims, a convicted felon. Sims has been found guilty of Possessing a Firearm and was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Peter M. Brigham to Five Years in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Sims’ arrest occurred back in April of 2022, during a large block party where Ocala Police Department (OPD) deputies initially observed him in the crowd, wearing a ski mask. Deputies continued patrolling the area on foot and while doing so, noticed Sims coming up directly behind them grabbing and holding onto an item within his pant pocket.

Upon noticing the suspicious behavior, deputies decided to conduct a consensual encounter with Sims. As deputies turned and began to walk in his direction, Sims took off running toward a parked vehicle.

While doing so, OPD officials notice Sims take his arm from his pocket and toss an item into the grassy area beside the vehicle. The item made an audible sound upon landing on the ground.  

When deputies made contact with Sims, who now had his ski mask pulled up on his head, another deputy observed a firearm in the grassy area where they witnessed Sims toss an item. The firearm was collected and deputies questioned Sims as to the possession of the firearm, post-Miranda Warning, he denied ownership.

Based upon their observation, the discovery of the firearm, and given Sims’ prior felony conviction, he was placed under arrest for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. While being processed into the Marion County jail, Sims told the arresting officer that the firearm was not his and he did not plan on using it.

“This case underscores the importance of vigilance in our community. Our deputies acted swiftly to ensure the safety of the public,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney.  “The successful prosecution and sentencing of the defendant reflect our commitment to upholding the law and protecting our residents.”

Assistant State Attorney Janine Nixon ensured the successful prosecution of this case.

Published on 06/27/2024.