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(Marion County, FL) After a one-day jury trial, 42-year-old James Marion Brady has been found guilty on all charges related to a pursuit by law enforcement back in 2024. Brady was convicted of Burglary of an Authorized Emergency Vehicle, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, and Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle. Judge Peter M. Brigham sentenced the defendant to 20 years in prison.

The case against Brady stems from the events of October 26, 2024, when he stole a law enforcement vehicle and led deputies on a high-speed chase. Originally, deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suspicious incident off SE 59^th Street in Ocala. Upon arrival, they made contact with the defendant, who advised that he needed assistance. Brady informed officials he had ‘done drugs’ and needed to be seen by medical personnel.

While waiting for emergency medical services, the defendant got off the ground and ran towards the deputies’ parked patrol vehicles. Brady gained access inside one of the vehicles before fleeing. A brief, high-speed chase ensued before the vehicle was immobilized, and the defendant was arrested. 

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Meredith Poisson and Madison Bryan.

Published on 12/18/2025.

(Lake County, FL) Today, December 17, 2025, jurors delivered their verdict in the 2024 murder case of 51-year-old Raied Shihadeh.  After nearly three hours of deliberation, jurors found 26-year-old Alex Lopez guilty of First-Degree Murder and Robbery with a Firearm. Judge Brian Welke sentenced Lopez to Life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“Less than a hundred dollars is what this ruthless, wanna be thug valued over the victim’s life,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “While this verdict, nor ANY amount of money, can’t bring the victim back, we hope his family finds comfort in knowing this killer won’t walk free again.”

On May 30, 2024, officers with the Leesburg Police Department responded to the M & M Food Mart convenience store located off Picciola Road in Leesburg, FL. Law enforcement was advised of a robbery with a possible gunshot victim. When officials entered the store, they located Shihadeh lying on the ground behind the front counter. He had a gunshot wound to the abdomen and head. Emergency medical personnel transported the victim by helicopter to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Officers spoke with a witness on scene who advised she had just entered the store and heard screaming coming from what sounded like a cell phone. When she looked behind the counter, she saw the victim and the phone. Detectives were able to determine that the victim was on a FaceTime call with his wife at the time of the incident.

Surveillance footage was collected from the business, where it showed a face-covered male entering the store brandishing a firearm before shooting the victim. The unknown, masked male then proceeded to take money from the register and a vape product before fleeing.  During their investigation, officials disseminated photos of the suspect in a public bulletin asking for information identifying the shooter.

A couple of days later, detectives received multiple tips identifying the shooter as Lopez, the defendant. Authorities attempted to make contact with Lopez with negative results, and an arrest warrant was issued. On June 26, 2024, law enforcement arrested the defendant at the Sunshine Inn motel in Kissimmee, FL.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Ken Nunnelley and Rachel Jones. A special thank you to the law enforcement personnel for their diligent efforts in investigating this case, as well as the public’s assistance in identifying and reporting the defendant.

Published on 12/17/2025.

(Marion County, FL) On Friday, December 12, 2025, a jury found 45-year-old Michael Alton McMasters guilty of twenty felony counts of Possession of Child Pornography. Judge Willard Pope ordered McMasters into custody to await his sentencing hearing, which will take place after a presentence investigation is completed. 

In January of 2024, law enforcement officials at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office 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 were able to determine that the defendant was the owner of the account. Detectives responded to McMasters’ residence off Southwest 30^th Terrace, where they made contact with the defendant, who was residing in a camper trailer on the property.

In speaking with McMasters, detectives revealed the reason for their investigation. McMasters denied any knowledge of child sex abuse material being uploaded before refusing further questions by officials. McMasters was taken into custody, and multiple devices from within the home were seized as evidence.

An MCSO Digital Forensic Technician completed a forensic exam of the defendant’s devices and located the aforementioned files.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Samantha Wahba and Drew Brandies.

Published on 12/16/2025.

(Marion County, FL) On December 11, 2025, a Marion County jury found 24-year-old Henry Jonathan Valencia guilty of Second-Degree Murder with a Firearm. The defendant was sentenced to Life in prison following his conviction.

Back in May of this year, multiple deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) responded to the Petro Gas Station off Highway 318 in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim, later identified as 17-year-old Nosiah Santos, lying on the ground next to a gas pump.

Medical treatment was rendered to the victim on scene, who was trauma alerted to a hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Officials spoke to a caller on the scene, who informed deputies she video recorded the suspect running from the area after the shooting. The video was collected as evidence.

Also on scene was the victim’s mother, who indicated she was on the phone with the victim at the time of the altercation.  She told law enforcement that the victim called her and indicated that he wanted her to pick him up, that he was done with Valencia.  Upon hearing this, she asked where the victim was. After receiving his location, she proceeded to drive to him and stayed on the phone. While traveling to get her son, the phone went silent.

During their investigation, detectives learned that the defendant and victim had been in a dating relationship for approximately four months. Valencia picked up the victim earlier that day from the victim’s mother’s residence to travel back to Jacksonville. During their travels, the defendant and the victim began to argue over another male. At this time, the defendant stopped at the gas station where the victim got out and was on the phone with his mother. The defendant shot the victim while the victim sat, waiting for his mother to arrive. The defendant fled the scene.

The victim’s family was familiar with the defendant and informed law enforcement that he resided in Jacksonville. Law enforcement made contact with Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputies, who located Valencia. He was interviewed regarding the incident and subsequently arrested in this case.

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

Published 12/15/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Yesterday afternoon, jurors delivered their verdict in the 2023 murder case of 40-year-old Wayne Barlow.  After a brief deliberation of the evidence presented and compelling testimony by 39-year-old co-defendant Jessica Lynn Long, jurors found 48-year-old Michael Montgomery Jr. guilty of First-Degree Murder with a Firearm. Montgomery was also convicted of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement, Driving while License Suspended or Revoked, and Resisting Law Enforcement Officer. The defendant was sentenced to Life in prison.

On June 27, 2023, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies were called to an area off NW 77^th Terrace in Ocala, in reference to a deceased male. Upon arrival, officials were informed by the 9-1-1 caller that he was in the area, traveling home, when he observed what he thought to be a dead hog on the side of the road. Upon getting a better look, the reportee realized it was a human body. MCSO’s Forensics Unit and Major Crimes Detectives, as well as the Medical Examiner’s Office, responded to the scene.

Officials observed the victim to have an apparent gunshot wound to the side of his head. Additionally, the decedent had a black eye and other scrapes and bruises, clothing that appeared to be ripped and torn, indicating a possible fight had ensued prior to the victim’s death. Upon searching the decedent, law enforcement was able to identify the victim as Barlow.

During their investigations, detectives learned that a grey Hyundai registered to Barlow was missing. Officials entered an alert into law enforcement’s database for the vehicle. A few hours later, the Ocala Police Department (OPD) contacted MCSO detectives, advising that the vehicle was observed traveling off U.S. Hwy 441. OPD officers attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled. After a brief pursuit with the occupants attempting to flee on foot, both were arrested and identified as Montgomery and co-defendant Long.

 Both the defendant and the co-defendant were arrested and taken to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning. During an interview with co-defendant Long, she initially denied any involvement in the victim’s murder, but later informed detectives she was there during the murder. Long detailed a series of events that led up to the victim’s death, linking Montgomery as the killer. When confronted with this information during questioning, Montgomery eventually confessed to robbing the victim and indicated that the robbery got out of hand. 

After obtaining statements and comparing evidence collected from the scene to include the firearm used, as well as the forensic evidence, which revealed the defendant’s DNA on the items used to choke and hit the victim, both Montgomery and the co-defendant were arrested for the death of Barlow. Co-defendant Long is set to be sentenced to a term of 30 years in prison for her cooperation in the prosecution of this case.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Richard Buxman. Thank you to the entire Marion County Sheriff’s Office team, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Ocala Police Department for their diligent work in this case that helped secure this conviction.

Published on 12/12/2025.

(Citrus County, FL) Yesterday, in Judge Joel D. Fritton’s courtroom, after two hours of testimony and final arguments, 31-year-old Darien Andrew Hauter was sentenced to 20 years in the Florida Department of Corrections, after being found guilty of violating his probation on the original charges of; Burglary of a Dwelling with Battery, two counts of False Imprisonment, Felony Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, and two counts of Child Abuse.

Hauter was on pretrial release at the time of his original offense for a separate felony domestic battery case and was rearrested on July 29, 2025, by Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies for Domestic Battery by Strangulation.

That day, CCSO deputies responded to a park area in downtown Inverness in response to numerous reports of a disturbance involving a male and female.  When law enforcement arrived, they were unable to make contact with the parties involved, but did identify the male as the defendant and the female as the victim.

Officials later obtained a phone number for the pair, who agreed to meet with deputies at their residence. While speaking with the victim, deputies observed the defendant’s demeanor shift, with Hauter consistently staying by the victim’s side and staring at her in what appeared to be an attempted intimidation tactic. Based on this suspicion, law enforcement separated the two.

Once the victim was safely outside of the residence and away from Hauter, she divulged to law enforcement that the defendant had accused her of cheating and had begun to physically strike and beat her. The victim stated that while attempting to leave the park area to go to the Sheriff’s Office to get help, the defendant chased her down the road, causing her to crash. At this point, the defendant jumped into the bed of the truck and forced her out of the driver’s seat. This was witnessed by the original complainant, who called into the agency’s dispatch to report the pair.

Hauter, while driving the vehicle, continued to strike the victim repeatedly before pulling over to a secluded area where he later strangled the victim unconscious. The victim indicated that the defendant woke her after being alerted that law enforcement was seeking to contact them. Hauter then instructed the victim to cover her bruises and marks with makeup before arriving to speak with law enforcement.

After observing the various injuries to the victim, officials questioned the defendant. When asked about the abnormal, visible marks on his arms, Hauter could not justify the injuries. Deputies read the defendant his Miranda warning, then Hauter invoked his rights and refused to provide a statement. Based on the injuries observed, the victim’s statement, and the independent witness statement, Hauter was arrested and charged.

The outcome of this case was a result of the diligent prosecution efforts of Assistant State Attorney Kevin Davis.

Published on 12/09/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Last week, in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Timothy T. McCourt, jurors found 28-year-old Malachi Immanuel Stocker guilty after deliberating for less than half an hour. Stocker was convicted of Traveling to Meet a Minor, Soliciting a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct, and Unlawful Use of a Two-way Device. He is set to be sentenced at a later time.

Stocker was originally arrested in July of 2024, following a Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) undercover online operation to target suspects who use the internet to sexually exploit children with the intention of meeting the juveniles.

During the undercover operation, MCSO Detective Terry posed as a 14-year-old male child on an online account. Stocker messaged the decoy user and after being informed of the minor’s age, engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the child.

Stocker would later request to meet with the child in person to engage in sexual activities. Officials then coordinated a time and location to meet Stocker, where he was promptly arrested.  During an in-custody interview, the defendant admitted to using the online platform to message with a 14-year-old male but denied going to the meeting location to meet the minor.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Shanae Pickens. Thank you to MCSO Detective Terry for developing this lead, as well as Detective Hartigan and Corporal Perry for obtaining crucial evidence used during the trial.

Published on 12/08/2025.

(Hernando County, FL) On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, jurors rendered a guilty verdict in the case against 49-year-old Jeannie Potter. Potter was charged with Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon after her 2024 arrest. Potter was taken into custody to await her sentencing hearing on January 22, 2026, while a presentence investigation is conducted.

Just two days before Christmas in 2024, deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home off Corrine Ave. in Spring Hill in reference to a battery. When officials arrived on scene, they observed a white minivan crashed into the garage area of the home and located the victim, who had injuries from the crash, as well as the defendant.

The victim relayed to law enforcement that the defendant, later identified as Potter, had arrived at the home shortly before the incident. The victim indicated that an active court order was in place, prohibiting Potter from entering the property. Despite this, the defendant pulled into the driveway, exited her vehicle, and proceeded to rip off numerous security cameras from the outside of the home.

When the victim exited the home to confront the defendant, Potter got inside her vehicle, drove straight at the victim, and bumped the victim with the van. The victim recorded the incident by cell phone video. After striking the victim the first time with the vehicle, Potter is seen reversing the van once more, before placing the vehicle in drive and accelerating towards the victim. The victim sustained injuries to their leg and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The defendant was also transported for treatment of injuries.

At the hospital, deputies obtained statements from Potter, who indicated she was upset the victim had sold what she believed was her rightful property. After admitting to ripping off security cameras from the home, the defendant stated she got into her vehicle and accelerated towards the garage while the victim was standing in front of it. Potter advised that she did not hit the brake soon enough and accidentally hit the victim.

After obtaining witness statements and reviewing the evidence from the investigation, Potter was arrested and charged.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Kasey Whitson and Heather Errede.

Published on 12/04/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Last week, 52-year-old Ronald Cyril Ganser and 60-year-old Mark J. Cambre were found guilty of Principal to Kidnapping, Burglary of a Dwelling with Assault, and Principal to Robbery with a Firearm. After the verdict was rendered, Judge Peter M. Brigham sentenced both defendants to Life in prison.   

The case began on February 21, 2022, when Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call at a rural Micanopy home regarding an armed robbery in progress. The caller indicated they were able to escape from the house after seeing masked, armed assailants inside the residence.

The victim told officials they had exited the shower and heard their dogs barking. After getting dressed, they made their way down the hallway and saw multiple armed men standing inside the home and yelling at the two other victims held captive. Seeing the intruders, the victim fled the home, making their way to a neighbor’s house, where they were able to contact authorities.

The armed men, who stole various items from the residence, were attempting to make their escape in one of the victim’s cars when deputies arrived on scene. In their attempt to flee, the suspects crashed the stolen vehicle into a tree before taking off on foot. MCSO deployed its Aviation Unit to help locate the fleeing suspects in the heavily wooded area.

Additional deputies made their way to the house, where they heard one of the two victims yelling for help. The first victim was located inside a bathroom of the home, bound with tape. Officials were able to find the second victim, who was initially held captive in the home, but later escaped and hid from the suspects after faking a medical emergency. The victim told deputies the suspects appeared inside the home, where they bound the two victims, before beating one of them and asking for the combination to a safe located inside the residence.

Using aviation’s heat detection system, law enforcement located defendant Ganser and apprehended him. Responders observed Ganser to have remnants of latex gloves around his wrist. During the officials’ continuing investigation, Cambre was later developed as a suspect and taken into custody as well.

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

Published on 11/25/2025.

(Marion County, FL) This morning, 57-year-old Robert Leroy Connor II was sentenced to Life in prison. Connor was found guilty on all charges during his jury trial in September of this year. He was convicted of Robbery with a Weapon, two counts of False Imprisonment While Armed, and Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle. Concurrent to his life sentence, Connor was also sentenced to 30 years for each count of false imprisonment and 10 years for the grand theft charge.

Connor’s convictions stem from a robbery that occurred on June 12, 2023, at a residence in the Villages, Florida. Around 10 a.m., the defendant rang the doorbell at the victim’s home, asking to have a water bottle refilled. Believing the man was in dire need of water due to his flushed appearance, the victim invited Connor into the residence while the second victim gave him a glass of water. Once inside, Connor asked to use the phone to make a call, but when handed the phone, he did not use it.

At that time, the defendant demanded money from both victims. When the cash they provided was not enough, Connor began demanding more, eventually demanding both victims’ bank account information. At one point during his crime, Connor stood behind the first victim and pointed a gun to their head. He then proceeded to bind and tie both victims’ arms and hands.

After incapacitating both victims, Connor began entering different rooms of the home and rummaging through the victims’ belongings, to include a jewelry box. Connor then stole the keys to the victims’ vehicle and exited the residence door to the garage. At that time, one of the victims was able to reach the door to lock it, as well as the front door. Noticing this, Connor attempted to kick in the front door of the home before fleeing in the stolen vehicle.

The stolen car was later recovered, along with surveillance video of Connor exiting the vehicle where he abandoned it. The car and house were later swabbed for DNA evidence. Law enforcement found multiple traces of Connor’s DNA, leading to his apprehension.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Tucker O’Neill and Shanae Pickens.

Published on 11/19/2025.