Three Marion County firefighters plead guilty to battery in hazing case
Three Marion County Fire Rescue employees — Seth Day, Edward Kenny, and Tate Trauthwein — pleaded guilty Thursday to simple battery stemming from a hazing incident involving a co-worker. The three had originally been arrested in November 2025 on charges of battery and false imprisonment, to which they pleaded not guilty. Each was sentenced to one year of probation, 100 hours of community service, and several hundred dollars in fines.
Sources: WCJB TV20
Dunnellon man jailed for stealing Dragon Ball Z statue from Walmart
Marion County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 29-year-old Corinthian Williams on Sunday after he was found in possession of a stolen Dragon Ball Z anime statue taken from the Dunnellon Walmart. Williams returned some of the stolen merchandise when confronted by a store employee, but still had the statue when deputies located him. He is being held on a $6,000 bond.
Sources: WCJB TV20
Starke man faces up to 30 years in prison on child pornography charges
A 59-year-old Starke man named Gary Adams was arrested Wednesday after investigators received a cyber tip the previous week alleging he was uploading child pornography to Facebook. The Florida Attorney General’s office stated that Adams could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted, and additional charges may be filed.
Sources: WCJB TV20
Truck rollover sends driver to hospital in Ocala
A truck overturned Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of North Pine Avenue and Northwest 8th Street in Ocala, according to Marion County Fire Rescue. The driver was transported to a hospital for evaluation, and first responders closed off the intersection around 5 p.m.
Sources: WCJB TV20
Cousin of ‘Summer House’ cast member charged with killing grandmother in Missouri
A relative of West Wilson, who appears on the reality television series ‘Summer House,‘ has been accused of murdering his grandmother, according to reporting by The Gainesville Sun. Details of the case are limited, but the alleged killing took place in Missouri.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
Florida executes Orlando man for rape and murder of 13-year-old decades ago
Florida carried out the execution of James Hitchcock for the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl, a crime committed roughly 50 years ago. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal ahead of the scheduled execution.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
Florida law on drinking THC beverages while driving raises legal questions
A Gainesville Sun report examines whether it is legal to consume low-THC beverages while operating a vehicle in Florida. The legality of such products in a driving context appears to be an open or unclear question under state law.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
Convicted felon arrested after crashing stolen vehicle in Archer
Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 22-year-old man after he crashed a stolen vehicle on Southwest 170th Street in Archer on Tuesday. Investigators determined the car had been taken from somewhere in Alachua County several hours before the crash. The suspect, Dajuan Myhand, is a convicted felon who had previously served prison time for grand theft and armed burglary.
Sources: WCJB TV20
Judge denies bond for Ocala man charged in fatal front-yard shooting
A Marion County judge ordered 29-year-old Isaac Toye held without bond on a murder charge stemming from the February shooting death of 64-year-old Harold Harper outside Harper’s Ocala home. The ruling came at a Wednesday hearing before Judge Barbara Kwatkosky. The judge also allowed prosecutors to seek Toye’s unredacted military records.
Sources: WCJB TV20
Fire Damages Outreach Thrift Store on Gainesville’s Northwest Side
Gainesville Fire Rescue responded to a large blaze at the Outreach Thrift Store on Northwest 6th Street and Northwest 23rd Avenue around 10:30 Tuesday night. The store, widely known for supplying affordable clothing and household goods to North Central Florida residents, sustained significant damage, though no injuries were reported. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun · WCJB TV20
Body of missing Florida truck driver found in Georgia
The body of a Florida truck driver who had gone missing was recovered in Georgia, according to a report from The Gainesville Sun. The victim was identified as Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez, and the case has connections to the Miami area.
Sources: The Gainesville Sun
Wildfires Prompt No-Entry Zone, Emergency Declaration in Gainesville Area
City and county officials have established a temporary no-entry zone in wooded areas near North Main Street as multi-agency crews continue suppression efforts against active wildfires, with the Florida Forest Service also leading an investigation into the fire’s origin. Alachua County has declared a Local State of Emergency, and the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Alachua County and 30 other Florida counties amid what officials describe as extreme drought conditions tied to a burn ban in place since November 2026. Gainesville Fire Rescue and police are distributing safety information to anyone in the restricted zone—bounded by NW Sixth Street, Main Street, NW 39th Avenue, and NW 53rd Avenue—and warn that those who remain after outreach could face enforcement action.
Sources: Alachua County · City of Gainesville
UF Addresses False Alarm After Micanopy Crash Triggers Mass Casualty Alert
A traffic crash near Micanopy mistakenly triggered a mass casualty alert, prompting the University of Florida to issue a clarification. UF moved to clear up confusion following the accidental report, according to the Independent Florida Alligator.
Sources: The Independent Florida Alligator
