Woman faces charges of allegedly transmitting nude pictures to minor

On Aug. 20, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) was contacted in reference to allegations of a 20-year-old woman transmitting nude photographs of herself via text message to a minor.

The suspect was identified as Ashlee Graham, and detectives were able to gather forensic digital evidence to support these allegations.

The evidence revealed Graham had sent three nude photos to the victim and also requested the victim to send nude photos of themselves. Detective Tiffany Barry with the CCSO Internet Crimes Against Children Unit was assigned the case and began working both the digital and forensic sides of the investigation.

Continue reading “Woman faces charges of allegedly transmitting nude pictures to minor”

Governor signs Florida Veteran Suicide Prevention Month proclamation

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis has lent his signature to the Florida Veteran Suicide Prevention Month Proclamation, highlighting the state’s involvement with the nation’s comprehensive suicide prevention effort known as PREVENTS.

On March 5, 2019, President Trump signed Executive Order 13861, The President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS), with a call to action to highlight and accelerate progress in addressing veteran suicides.

Continue reading “Governor signs Florida Veteran Suicide Prevention Month proclamation”

2-month-old’s death leads to 4 arrests

Four Citrus County residents were arrested today and charged with Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child, Child Neglect, and Maintaining a Dwelling for the Purpose of Using Controlled Substances.

Arrested were 25-year-old Kevin Courtney, 25-year-old Stephanie Carroll, 52-year-old Steven Gibson and 44-year-old Tammy Allison were arrested after CCSO’s investigation revealed their negligence in the death of a 2-month-old child earlier this year.

“This case is an example of the heinous crimes that are investigated by the detectives of the CCSO Special Victim’s Unit,” said Sheriff Prendergast. “It also highlights the cooperation between our office, state, and federal agencies in order to bring justice to Citrus County victims, like the precious child in this case.

Continue reading “2-month-old’s death leads to 4 arrests”

Tire recycling event slated for landfill

Standing bodies of water can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and mosquitoes have been found to transmit Zika Virus.

In an effort to reduce areas where water can collect and subsequently reduce mosquito breeding, the Citrus County Solid Waste Management Division will be accepting tires at the Central Landfill free of charge for recycling on Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6 from 8am to 4:30pm and Saturday, November 7, 2020 from 8am to 2:30pm.

Continue reading “Tire recycling event slated for landfill”

Citrus County man charged with capital sex battery on a person under 12 years old

Citrus County Sheriff’s Office detectives in the agency’s High Tech Crimes Unit on Aug. 26 arrested 34-year-old Daniel Grisales of Dunnellon on charges of capital sexual battery against a juvenile victim under the age of 12.

As members of the Central Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, detectives receive tips for the exploitation of children that may be occurring within the community.

This investigation began after a popular internet company reported that child pornography was sent to multiple people through their mobile app.

Continue reading “Citrus County man charged with capital sex battery on a person under 12 years old”

25th Annual Save Our Waters Week Grand Finale Program

Quinn Zacharias of Alachua County, FL will speak at this year’s 25th Annual Save Our Waters Week finale held at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, 1 Courthouse Square, Inverness, on Saturday, September 26 from 2-3pm.

This event will be offered both live and virtually.

Mr. Zacharias is an Environmental Engineer and Research Assistant at the UF Howard T. Odum Center for Wetlands. His “2020 Vision: Focusing on Florida’s Water Issues” presentation will address several hot topics in water resources including: nutrient management, algal blooms, storm water flooding/erosion, spring/groundwater protection and coastline protection.

Continue reading “25th Annual Save Our Waters Week Grand Finale Program”

Citrus County votes in Aug. 18 primary

Citrus County voters on Tuesday filled in their ballots to let their choices be known for several political positions.

Winners include Sheriff Mike Prendergast, who defeated three challengers in the primary. He will now face Lee Alexander in November. Alexander is a former police chief in Inverness.

Creg Dalton gathered the most votes in the Property Appraiser race. Sandra “Sam” Himmel won her fifth term as Superintendent of Schools. Maureen “Mo” Baird bested opponent Scott Adams for the Supervisor of Elections post. Winning the District 3 seat for county commission was Ruthie Davis Schlabach . And winning county commission for District 5 was Holly Davis.

Continue reading “Citrus County votes in Aug. 18 primary”

Cardinal Suncoast Interchange public workshop looks at development plan

The Citrus County Commission held a pubic workshop to discuss a proposed future master development plan for Cardinal Street, a road which has historically been a seven-mile, two-lane road in Homosassa, Fla.

The Cardinal interchange is part of an extension of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) of the Suncoast Parkway from Brooksville.

The street is proposed to be morphed into mixed use (both commercial and residential). Future developers would then be limited to parcel sizes of no less than 30 acres for any commercial use.

Continue reading “Cardinal Suncoast Interchange public workshop looks at development plan”

Undercover drug buy leads to warrant, arrests of 4 people

Four people were arrested Tuesday after an undercover “buy-bust” operation by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, and the subsequent execution of a search warrant at a nearby Homosassa residence.

The CCSO said that the sheriff’s office’s Tactical Impact Unit (TIU) concluded the multifaceted narcotic investigation by initiating a buy-bust operation and then a subsequent search warrant of the residence.

The targets of this investigation were Nicole Cash and Issac Edwards. The CCSO said Edwards is a 22-time convicted felon.

Continue reading “Undercover drug buy leads to warrant, arrests of 4 people”

Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals capture Citrus County man

On July 25, the United States Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force (CRFTF) announced the arrest of fugitive Rapheal Malik Akbar Arnold.

The 32-year-old Arnold was wanted out of Citrus County for Sexual Battery on a child under the age of 12.

“Our agency owes the arrest of this violent fugitive and the safety of this 5-year-old child to our regional task force partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service,” said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast.

Continue reading “Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals capture Citrus County man”