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(Lake County, FL) Yesterday, Judge Brian Welke sentenced 44-year-old Michael Allen Reams, a registered Sexual Predator and Habitual Felony Offender, to Life in prison. The defendant was found guilty on a slew of illicit drug charges by a jury back in June of this year.

Reams was convicted of Trafficking in Heroin 28 grams or more, Conspiracy to Traffic in Fentanyl 28 grams or more, Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Sell, Possession of a Place for Trafficking/Sale of a Controlled Substance, Child Neglect, Unlawful Use of a Two-way Device, and Possession of Paraphernalia. 

Back in August of 2021, detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit executed a search warrant at a residence off 1st Bass Street in Tavares, Florida, following an investigation into narcotics sales linked to a traffic stop on July 13, 2021, which involved five ounces of Fentanyl. Officers with the Tavares Police Department and Leesburg Police Department assisted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office with this investigation.

Upon searching the home, officials located the defendant inside, along with a female and an 8-year-old child. Reams told officials that he resides in one of the bedrooms in the home and that some of the vehicles on the property were his. While searching the property, authorities located various amounts of illicit narcotics, numerous cellphones, as well as narcotics paraphernalia and containers consistent with the packaging and distribution for sale of the drugs.

During a search of the defendant’s room, detectives located a safe that contained items connected to the proceeds of illicit narcotics. A search of an Oldsmobile on the property, which was delivered and controlled by Reams, contained a cooler with multiple items inside, including over 28 grams of heroin. Reams was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail.

During the defendant’s trial, in which he chose to represent himself, Forensic Analysts testified that Reams’ DNA was present on the evidence collected by law enforcement in this case. It was also stated during court that Reams would utilize the young child to carry bags containing the illicit narcotics, including deadly Fentanyl. 

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Kristalle Smoller.

Published on 09/16/2025.

(Marion County, FL) On Friday, September 12, 2025, in the courtroom of Judge Timothy McCourt, a jury found 57-year-old Robert Leroy Connor II guilty of Robbery with a Weapon, two counts of False Imprisonment While Armed, and Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle. Connor remains in custody to await his sentencing hearing, pending a presentencing investigation. He faces a 30-year minimum mandatory sentence on his conviction.

The robbery occurred on June 12, 2023, at a residence in the Villages, Florida. The suspect, later identified as 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 then 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. It was at this time that 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 09/15/2025.

(Sumter County, FL) Today, 24-year-old Jasmine Daebreon Grover was sentenced by Judge Mary P. Hatcher to 29.5 years in the Florida Department of Corrections, followed by one year of probation for her DUI manslaughter case.

Earlier this year, a jury found Grover guilty of Driving Under the Influence Manslaughter following a fatal vehicle incident that took the life of 21-year-old Alexes Olivia Matthews. Grover was also convicted of Driving Under the Influence with Serious Bodily Injury, Driving Under the Influence Causing Injury, Driving Under the Influence with Property Damage, and Possession of Cannabis.

Back on February 9, 2020, Grover, who was 19 years old at the time, was driving a vehicle with three other passengers, including the victim.  Grover was under the influence at the time and lost control of the vehicle while driving on County Road 476 in Sumter. She veered off the road and onto the shoulder. In an attempt to regain control, Grover overcorrected, causing the vehicle to cross back over the road to the opposite shoulder. Ultimately, the vehicle left the roadway completely and crashed into a tree. The impact of the crash not only ejected the victim but also caused the vehicle to roll on top of her, resulting in her death. 

Florida Highway Patrol conducted a thorough traffic homicide investigation, revealing that Grover was the individual behind the wheel at the time of the crash, according to the two surviving occupants. Additionally, first responders on scene indicated that Grover had bloodshot watery eyes, dilated pupils, slurred speech, and a very thick tongue – all consistent indicators she was under the influence. A substantial amount of cannabis was recovered from Grover’s waistband at the time of the accident.

A blood draw conducted on Grover revealed large quantities of both Cannabis and Etizolam, a controlled substance, in her system at the time of the deadly crash. This evidence, along with testimony from witnesses, members of the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Medical Examiner’s Office, and other fellow medical professionals, were presented during the trial.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Joseph Church and Sonny McCathran.

Published on 09/04/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Today, jurors returned a guilty verdict in the trial of 42-year-old Jefferey Randolph Grubbs, who was charged with Trafficking Fentanyl and Possession of Paraphernalia. Grubbs was sentenced by Judge Timothy McCourt to 30 years in prison on his trafficking conviction plus a consecutive year in jail for the paraphernalia charge, as well as a $100,000 fine.

Back in September of 2022, Officer Matthews of the Ocala Police Department (OPD) observed a silver car with inoperable tag lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver of the car was identified as Grubbs through his driver’s license.

During the traffic stop, OPD K9 Officer Prather deployed his K9 partner Graham to conduct an open-air sniff around the vehicle. When the K9 alerted to the front passenger side door of the vehicle, the defendant was asked to step out. As Grubbs was exiting the vehicle, officers observed a cigarette box the defendant had previously been fidgeting with between the seats.

The box was retrieved and inside, officials observed a bill folded that held a crystal-like substance. Grubbs was then placed in handcuffs and searched. In the defendant’s pocket, law enforcement located a clear plastic bag with gray residue inside. The residue tested positive for fentanyl. The defendant was arrested and transported to jail.

While booking the suspect into the detention facility, a glass pipe fell from the defendant’s person. The paraphernalia was collected and the defendant informed deputies that he had something else on him. A body scan of Grubbs revealed he was hiding another item, which was later retrieved and determined to be a trafficking amount of fentanyl.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Samuel Militello and William Hodges.

Published on 09/03/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Last week, in Judge Peter Brigham’s courtroom, jurors took twenty minutes to find 21-year-old Alexandra Dominguez guilty of Domestic Battery by Strangulation and an additional charge of Battery. Dominguez was ordered into custody while a pre-sentence investigation is completed prior to being sentenced.

On April 24, 2024, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies responded to a residence off SW 43^rd Terrace Road in Ocala in reference to a disturbance.  When law enforcement arrived, the first victim advised that the defendant, identified as Dominguez, had battered them and another victim.

While speaking to both victims, deputies learned that the defendant had followed the victims home from a park, in agreement to grab a gaming console. Dominguez was instructed to wait outside the home while the console was retrieved from inside. When the gaming system was handed to the defendant, she became irate regarding a missing box and game for the console.

A verbal disturbance quickly turned physical when the defendant followed the first victim into the home, where she pushed the victim down and choked the victim. When victim two witnessed this, they attempted to intervene. Dominguez proceeded to batter them as well. After observing injuries consistent with both victims’ statements, law enforcement attempted to make contact with the defendant via phone, which was met with negative results.

MCSO authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Dominguez, who was later apprehended.

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

Published on 09/02/2025.

(Lake County, FL) Monday, August 25, 2025, 41-year-old Emmanuel Cazeau was sentenced to 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections by Judge James R. Baxley. Cazeau was found guilty earlier this year on charges of Trafficking in Fentanyl, Trafficking in Heroin, and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Back in June of 2023, Cazeau was driving a silver Chevrolet SUV when he failed to come to a complete stop at an intersection. Sgt. Robertson, with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.

The driver, later identified as the defendant through his driver’s license, was informed of the reason for the stop. As Sgt. Robertson began writing Cazeau for a traffic infraction warning, K9 Handler Semento and his K9 partner Jim conducted an open-air sniff of the exterior of the vehicle. K9 Jim alerted to the presence of narcotics.

Upon removing Cazeau and another passenger, deputies located a baggie of a purple substance on the floorboard of the driver’s side. The substance field tested positive for illicit drugs and weighed approximately 13 grams. Cazeau was subsequently arrested.

The evidence was collected and later submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for further analysis. FDLE’s examination concluded that the substance was a mixture of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Dustan Geurin and Christopher Small.

Published on 08/28/2025.

(Citrus County, FL) Last week, 66-year-old Tyrone Leroy Washington was convicted of two counts of Trafficking in Fentanyl, Trafficking in Cocaine, and Possession with the Intent to Sell within 1000 feet of a School after pleading no contest. He was sentenced to 20 years in the Florida Department of Corrections by Judge Joel E. Fritton.

Washington’s charges stemmed from an investigation initiated in 2024 by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). The investigation revealed drug trafficking activities involving Washington. In September of 2024, members of the CCSO’s Tactical Impact Unit coordinated multiple controlled narcotics purchases from Washington.

At a residence in Dunnellon, Washington sold law enforcement a trafficking amount of Fentanyl. The evidence was field-tested and yielded positive results. A search warrant was subsequently obtained for the residence, and during the execution of the warrant, officials located a trafficking amount of a white powdery substance, later tested and identified as cocaine. Washington was arrested and charged accordingly.

Assistant State Attorney Tara Hartman prosecuted this case.

Published on 08/26/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Wednesday, during a jury trial representing himself, 57-year-old Richard Logsdon pleaded no contest to his charge of Soliciting a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct using a Computer. Judge Barbara Kissner-Kwatkosky sentenced Logsdon to five years in the Florida Department of Corrections and he is designated as a Sexual Offender.

Back in August of 2018, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), along with the assistance of several law enforcement agencies, including the Ocala Police Department (OPD) and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, conducted an undercover online operation targeting individuals who solicit children online for sexual activity and who travel to meet these children with the intention of engaging in the sexual activity.

During the operation, the defendant engaged in sexually explicit conversations with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old female child, but was in fact an undercover detective. While communicating with the decoy, Logsdon acknowledged the decoy’s young age but continued to talk to who he believed to be a minor, even providing his own cellphone number to message with the undercover detective.

Logsdon continued to have inappropriate conversations with the undercover detective posing as a 13-year-old, asking for nude photographs and initiating sexually explicit conversations. When detectives arrived at Logsdon’s residence to question his online conversation with the minor, the defendant denied ever speaking with underage girls. Law enforcement was able to subpoena information on both the email address and phone number used by Logsdon to positively identify him as the owner and user.

Assistant State Attorney Katrina Self prosecuted this case.

Published on 08/22/2025.

(Marion County, FL) On Tuesday, 33-year-old Rafael Then Jr. was found guilty by a jury of Trafficking in Methamphetamine. Judge Barbara Kissner-Kwatkosky ordered Then into custody to await his sentencing hearing.

Then was arrested on July 31, 2023, by agents of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Ocala Police Department’s Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) at the conclusion of an undercover narcotics investigation conducted by UDEST and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Law Enforcement officers, through confidential measures, were able to schedule an undercover buy. 

An undercover officer met Then at a business location in the Marion Oaks community. After arriving at the scheduled place, a purple in color Dodge Charger, being driven by Then arrived. Then exited the vehicle and entered the passenger side of the undercover officer’s vehicle.

During the controlled purchase, Then sold the undercover officer a large quantity of Methamphetamine. After completing the transaction, officials took possession of the purchased drugs and secured it into evidence. The evidence was later sent off to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration’s laboratory for chemical analysis and yielded a positive result for methamphetamine. Then was subsequently arrested and charged in this case.

The State Attorney’s Office appreciates the collaboration and dedication of the law enforcement officials involved in the investigation. 

The successful prosecution of this case was a result of the diligent efforts of Assistant State Attorney Samuel Armstrong.

Published on 08/21/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Monday, August 18, 2025, in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Barbara Kissner-Kwatkosky, 36-year-old Keyobie Dawadrian Bullard pleaded and was convicted of Attempted Robbery with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. Bullard was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison.

The attempted robbery occurred on May 6, 2022, at Beavers Discount Liquor Store, located off Jacksonville Road in Ocala. A witness reported to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) that while passing by the business, they observed a male wearing a blue hoodie inside, and it appeared the male was hitting the cashier over the head with what the witness believed to be a firearm.

While en route, authorities received an alert for the alarm at the business.  When deputies arrived, they made contact with the victim, who indicated a male matching the witness’s early description attempted to rob the store. The victim stated that when they were unable to open the cash register fast enough, the suspect hit them repeatedly with a stick, which was wrapped in tape and placed inside a black sock and Crown Royal bag. During this physical attack, the suspect then grabbed a firearm from under the counter and began striking the victim in the head. After hitting the victim with the firearm, the suspect fled on foot.

Law enforcement reviewed the store surveillance footage and observed the suspect enter the store where the events unfolded before fleeing the scene. Inside the store, officers located a sock left behind by the suspect, along with the stick used to strike the victim.

Both items were collected as evidence, along with several other items that the suspect was seen touching during the footage. These items were processed for fingerprints and DNA. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted DNA testing on the items, which matched the profile of Bullard.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Kyle Lambert.

Published on 08/20/2025.