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(Citrus County, FL) Today, Judge Joel D. Fritton sentenced 45-year-old Christopher James Cassidy to Life in prison, with an additional 15-year sentence for his convictions.

Last month, jurors found Cassidy guilty as charged for two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child less than 12 years of age and two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child less than 16 years of age.

In May of 2024, Deputy Levi Garrison of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to the Emergency Operations Center in Lecanto, FL, in reference to a complaint of a past sexual assault of a child. 

Upon arrival, Deputy Garrison learned from the complainant that a 12-year-old victim had been molested by the defendant. The complainant stated that the night prior, while having dinner with the defendant, he became visibly upset and left the dining room table. When the complainant asked what was wrong, Cassidy informed the complainant that he had touched the victim’s private area in a sexual manner. The defendant divulged a detailed account of the incident.  

The complainant told Deputy Garrison that, upon learning this, Cassidy was asked to leave the residence. The complainant was then able to speak with the victim, who disclosed the sexual abuse committed by the defendant. The victim also stated to the complainant that Cassidy had instructed the victim not to say anything about the incident.  

Detective Jason Cook with CCSO’s Special Victims Unit was assigned the case. A Child Protective Team interview was conducted at Jessie’s Place, where the victim recounted the same details as initially reported by the complainant. Contact was then made with the defendant and a recorded interview was completed. While speaking with officials, Cassidy made several admissions about molesting the victim and was subsequently arrested.   

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Kevin Davis and Kaitlyn Mannis.  

Published on 11/12/2025.

(Sumter County, FL) On November 4, 2025, in a Sumter County courtroom, jurors found 33-year-old Colton Steven Colyer guilty of three counts of Sexual Battery upon a Person under Twelve Years of Age and one count of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child.

Colyer was taken into custody after the rendering of the verdict, where he will remain until his sentencing hearing, which will be scheduled at a later date.  

Back in February of 2024, officials from Snohomish County in Washington contacted investigators in Sumter County regarding a crime that was committed within the jurisdiction of Sumter County, Florida.

Officials from Washington indicated that while investigating a local crime, they became aware of another crime involving the defendant.  Law enforcement then provided recorded interviews of Colyer, along with screen captures and written statements to SCSO detectives.   

Inspector Pamela Warren interviewed the victim who revealed that Colyer had sexually battered them in Sumter County when they were around 6-8 years old. The victim recounted the events in detail, providing a critical timeline that was corroborated by a witness.  The victim was also able to provide copies of messages confronting the defendant approximately 10 years after the crimes occurred, in which Colyer apologized to the victim.

An arrest warrant was issued, and Colyer was eventually arrested in Washington, where he was later transported back to Sumter County to face local charges.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Shelby Senn and Michael Kotsifakis. A sincere thank you to the Mill Creek Police Department in Snohomish County, Washington, for reporting this heinous crime on behalf of the victim, and to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office for their continued investigation into this case.

Published on 11/07/2025.

(Hernando County, FL) On October 23, 2025, 34-year-old Corey Andrews French was found guilty by a jury of two counts of Vehicular Homicide, one count of Possession of a Firearm by Felon, and one count of Violation of Domestic Violence Injunction by Possessing a Firearm.

Judge Daniel Merritt sentenced the defendant to 30 years in prison.

On January 10, 2022, French was driving south along U.S.19 in Brooksville, FL, when he sped past a red light and drove over a median into the northbound lanes. The victim, 35-year-old Amber West, was turning when the defendant’s car struck her vehicle. West was pronounced deceased on scene by first responders. West’s six-month-old infant, Kody Burbage, died less than an hour later from injuries sustained from the crash.

The defendant was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries he sustained during the crash. While officials were clearing the crash scene, they conducted a tow inventory of the defendant’s vehicle, where they located a firearm in the center console. French, a convicted felon with a domestic violence injunction, is prohibited from possessing a firearm. The defendant was initially arrested on this charge pending the outcome of the crash investigation.

During the Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation, witnesses recounted seeing the defendant driving erratically, striking a stationary car, and damaging the vehicle just prior to the fatal accident. A review of dash cam video evidence provided by one witness showed the defendant travelling at high speeds during the time of impact.  

After reviewing the evidence presented and the witness’s statements, French was arrested and charged accordingly.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney D. Robert Lewis.

Published on 11/05/2025.

(Marion County, FL) On October 24, 2025, 37-year-old Mitchel Andrew Searle was found guilty of Burglary with Battery, two counts of Burglary of a Dwelling, Burglary of a Structure, and three counts of Criminal Mischief. Judge Peter Brigham sentenced Searle to life in prison, followed by two concurrent fifteen-year sentences and a five-year concurrent sentence.

On the night of December 11, 2024, Corporal Harrington of the Belleview Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at Shepherd’s Lighthouse, where several victims were residing. Upon arriving at the establishment, Cpl. Harrington noticed the front door ajar, but before he could investigate further, the law enforcement officer heard yelling from an individual across the street at a residence.

Approaching the front of the residence, Cpl. Harrington observed the front door of the home had been kicked in. The individual, later identified as a victim, stated that while they were inside with their spouse and infant child, the front door of their residence was kicked in. The victim stated they armed themselves with a firearm and pointed it at the suspect as he started coming through the threshold of the door.

While speaking with the victims, Cpl. Harrington learned that the suspect had also kicked in the front door to the next-door neighbor’s house, causing another victim to flee out the back door of the home to safety. The suspect in all three incidents was described as a white male, wearing a black hoodie.

Responding Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Michaelides was patrolling the area when the deputy observed a subject matching the suspect’s description running towards a nearby McDonald’s. As the deputy tried to stop the individual, later identified as Searle, the defendant ran up to an occupied vehicle in the drive-through. He opened the passenger door, where a victim was seated, and struck her with his elbow. Searle was taken into custody.

After reviewing the security footage from Shepherd’s Lighthouse and confirming with eyewitnesses, Searle was positively identified as the burglar and arrested.

Assistant State Attorney James Moody successfully prosecuted this case.

Published on 10/30/2025.

(Marion County, FL) In the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Timothy McCourt, jurors found 44-year-old Howard Lee Whiteted III guilty on all counts:

• 4 counts of Capital Sexual Battery upon a Person Under 12 Years of Age
• 2 counts of Sexual Battery upon a Person 12-16 Years of Age
• Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child, Victim less than 12 Years of Age
• Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child, Victim Twelve or older but less than 16 Years of Age
• 2 counts of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct/Touch
• False Imprisonment

Following Whiteted’s conviction, Judge McCourt sentenced him to 11 consecutive life sentences. 

Whiteted was arrested in December of 2022 following a Marion County Sheriff’s Office investigation after a 14-year-old victim told a trusted adult about the sexual battery that Whiteted committed the night prior. The complainant contacted authorities to report the crime., The victim was eventually interviewed and recounted crucial details of the sexual abuse committed by Whiteted. The victim further informed officials that the defendant blocked the victim from leaving the bedroom multiple times. Major Crimes Detective Hartigan conducted an investigation into the allegations, finding probable cause to arrest the defendant.

After the initial investigation involving victim one, it was learned that a second victim, age 13, disclosed they too had been inappropriately touched by the defendant on multiple occasions, with the earliest reported occurrence being when the victim was only 10 years old. Victim two also informed detectives that despite trying to escape from Whiteted, he refused to let them leave and even made threats to continue harming the victim. The defendant was questioned about the allegations made by this second victim and was subsequently rearrested.

Officials then made contact with a third child victim who came forth after hearing of Whiteted’s arrest, who advised of numerous incidents of sexual abuse committed by the defendant.  Detectives launched a thorough investigation into this case, which revealed Whiteted had been abusing the victim since the victim was 4 years old. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Whiteted for sexual battery.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Shanae Pickens.

Published on 10/28/2025.

(Lake County, FL) On Friday, October 17, 2025, a jury rendered its verdict, finding 32-year-old Darion Dontae McGee, of Leesburg, guilty of First-Degree Murder for the death of 38-year-old Mustafa Hasan Connelly. McGee faces a mandatory life sentence on his conviction.

On December 17, 2021, deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vacant lot off Veech Road in Leesburg, FL, in reference to a caller advising a person had been shot and set on fire. The caller advised they had heard gunshots in the area earlier that day.

When law enforcement arrived on scene, they observed an unidentified male lying face down, lifeless, and ablaze outside the passenger side of a vehicle. Once the fire was extinguished, officials set up a crime scene perimeter. After running the license plate on the vehicle, authorities were able to determine the registered owner, who subsequently identified the victim as Mustafa Connelly.

The victim had apparent gunshot wounds to his back, and several shell casings were located near the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Aside from the spent shell casings, several other items were collected from the scene as evidence, including a latent print that was lifted from the vehicle.

After speaking with several witnesses, including family members of the victim, it was determined that the victim had been messaging with an individual, later identified as McGee, earlier in the day and was planning to meet up. Detective Mercer, who was assigned the case, then secured a warrant for McGee’s phone records, which placed the defendant at the incident location earlier that day. Records also revealed a conversation between the two indicating McGee requested a face-to-face meeting with the victim.

The latent examination and comparison of the print lifted from the vehicle the victim was in matched that of the defendant. A warrant was subsequently issued for McGee’s arrest.

The successful prosecution of this case was a result of the diligent efforts of Assistant State Attorneys Thomas Wieczorek and Nicholas Camuccio.

Published on 10/20/2025.

(Citrus County, FL) Earlier this morning, 63-year-old Tracey Lee Stanley entered an open plea to the court before Judge Joel D. Fritton, pleading no contest, in the case against her. Stanley is charged with Second-Degree Murder for the death of her roommate, 72-year-old Andrea Kathleen Day.

After a brief discussion with her attorney, Stanley entered the open plea in lieu of going to trial. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 9, 2026.

The case against Stanley began on July 20, 2024, when Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies were dispatched to 6033 East Rector Street in Inverness, FL, after receiving a call in reference to a deceased person having been located.

Inside the residence, they located the victim, who had clearly been deceased for a while and was wrapped in a tarp.

Stanley, who was Day’s roommate, was questioned by CCSO’s Major Crimes Detectives and was arrested in the case.

Assistant State Attorney Blake Shore is prosecuting the case.

Published on 10/13/2025.

(Hernando County, FL) Yesterday, Judge Daniel B. Merritt sentenced 43-year-old Christian Fischer to 15 years in the Florida Department of Corrections and designated him as a Sexual Offender. Fischer was found guilty in absentia during his jury trial back in February of this year. He was convicted of Traveling to Meet a Minor and Soliciting a Child for Unlawful Sexual Conduct.

Fischer, who was on bond at the time of his trial, appeared in court on the first day of the trial; however, he failed to appear on the second day of the trial. As a result, a Failure to Appear warrant was issued with nationwide extradition. In July, United States Marshals Service obtained photographs of Fischer in New Orleans, La. Investigators continued their efforts and located Fischer’s hiding spot, leading to his arrest on the outstanding warrant.

The case against Fischer involves a January 20, 2022, incident in which a citizen, who created a fake profile of a minor on social media to identify individuals who seduce, solicit, or entice children to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, was contacted by Fischer online.

Fischer messaged who he thought was a 13-year-old boy. During the message exchange with the citizen, Fischer acknowledged the age of the child and went on to ask if they had ever been with anyone sexually.

After continuing to communicate with the child through increasingly explicit messages, Fischer planned to meet up with the minor at a local store.  Once at the store, the citizen confronted Fischer on his purpose there and his intentions to meet with the juvenile for sexual gratification. The citizen then called law enforcement to respond. The interaction was recorded and eventually turned over to local officials at the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).

Authorities with the HCSO responded to the location and were informed by the citizen of the nature of the meeting with Fischer, who had fled prior to their arrival.   The citizen told deputies that Fischer had discarded a bag into the trash bin before fleeing. Deputies retrieved the bag, which contained lubricant, a box of chocolates, a bottle of chocolate syrup, and one bag of gummy rings.

Officials located Fischer shortly after, who was in possession of another bag that contained a hairbrush, condoms, and an enema. During an interview, Fischer admitted to knowing the person he was talking to was only 13 years of age. Additionally, he confessed to sending sexually charged messages to the minor and attempting to meet up with the child with the intent to use the items on the child.   

Investigators arrested Fischer for Traveling to Meet a Minor, Use of a Computer to Seduce, Solicit, or Lure a Child, Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communications Device, and Possession of Marijuana.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Angelina Rodeo and Ben Larison.

Published on 10/10/2025.

(Citrus County, FL) Jurors took exactly 13 minutes to deliberate yesterday before rendering a guilty verdict in the case against 45-year-old Christopher James Cassidy. Cassidy was found guilty as charged on two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child less than 12 years of age and two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child less than 16 years of age. After the verdict was read, Judge Joel D. Fritton ordered Cassidy back into custody to await his sentencing hearing on November 12, 2025, pending a presentence investigation.

In May of 2024, Deputy Levi Garrison of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) responded to the Emergency Operations Center in Lecanto, FL, in reference to a complaint of a past sexual assault of a child.

Upon arrival, Deputy Garrison learned from the complainant that a 12-year-old victim had been molested by the defendant. The complainant stated that the night prior, while having dinner with the defendant, he became visibly upset and left the dining room table. When the complainant went to ask what was wrong, Cassidy informed the complainant that he had touched the victim’s private area in a sexual manner. The defendant divulged a detailed account of the incident.

The complainant told Deputy Garrison that, upon learning this, Cassidy was asked to leave the residence. The complainant was then able to speak with the victim, who disclosed the sexual abuse committed by the defendant. The victim also stated to the complainant that Cassidy had instructed the victim not to say anything any the incident.

Detective Jason Cook with CCSO’s Special Victims Unit was assigned the case. A Child Protective Team interview was conducted at Jessie’s Place where the victim recounted the same details as initially reported by the complainant. Contact was then made with the defendant, where a recorded interview was completed. While speaking with officials, Cassidy made several admissions about molesting the victim and was subsequently arrested. 

This case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Kevin Davis and Kaitlyn Mannis.

Published on 10/09/2025.

(Marion County, FL) Earlier today, 26-year-old Maria Guadalupe Bautista was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after a jury found her guilty back in July on 13 counts of Fraudulent Use of Personal Information.  

Bautista was originally arrested in 2023 after investigators uncovered a petition fraud scheme in which she unlawfully used the personal information of multiple individuals, including one elected government official, to falsify petition signatures.

In November of 2021, the Office of Wesley Wilcox, the Supervisor of Elections for Marion County, contacted the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office regarding a complaint of widespread fraud related to a Constitutional Amendment 21-16 petition for the Limited Authorization of Casino Gaming.

Investigator Jeff Pfannerstill with the State Attorney’s Office met with the Supervisor of Elections, who informed the investigator that his staff is responsible for receiving all signed petitions collected and verifying the signatures. Upon doing so, his staff found two apparent fraudulent petitions that had the signature of a paid registered petition circulator by the name of Maria Bautista.

Staff of the elections office further reviewed petition forms submitted by the defendant and found numerous forms that did not match the signatures on the voter rolls submitted by Bautista. Additionally, of the fraudulent petition forms submitted by the defendant, two contained signatures of deceased registered voters.

Investigator Pfannerstill contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for further assistance in investigating the case. Inspector Adam Graff with the FDLE obtained an address for Bautista in Gainesville, where contact was made with the defendant. Upon questioning the defendant, she informed investigators that she did work for a political action committee after seeing an ad on Craigslist for a job.

While speaking with the defendant, she was shown one of the fraudulent cards and confirmed to officials that it was indeed her signature on the submitted petition forms. The petition form in question contained the voter information and a fraudulent signature for a Marion County elected official. When questioned as to the person who filled out the form, Bautista claimed she did not recall the individual who signed it.

Continuing their investigation, Inspector Graff reached out to the Department of Elections (DOE) and requested a search to be completed to determine the number of petitions submitted by the defendant. The DOE returned the results of the submitted petitions by Bautista, and probable cause was established for the defendant’s arrest.

The State Attorney’s Office appreciates the efforts of FDLE Inspector Graff, SAO Investigator Pfannerstill, Assistant State Attorney Janine Nixon, Certified Legal Intern Sandy Edwards, the Department of Elections, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, and all who assisted in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.

Published on 10/08/2025.