WUFT · Marion Online Sexual Predators An undercover investigation in Marion County last week resulted in the arrest of 20 online sexual predators trying to meet underage children for sex or sending explicit photos or messages. They were caught by Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and his team. Lieutenant Paul …
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Gainesville Police say an armed man barricaded himself inside a home in the Anglewood subdivision off Newberry Road early Monday morning. Officers arrested Ronald Corey Schultz after more than seven hours of negotiations, according to a news release from the department. Police were sent to the home at about 2:35 …
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The NAACP issued a travel advisory for Florida Saturday, citing recent legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The civil rights organization describes recent legislation as a “relentless and systemic attack on democracy and civil rights” against African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color. “We will not allow our rights …
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Landis J’Marcus Finch will spend two years in a state prison and five years probation on eight misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, two felony aggravated animal cruelty charges and two felony animal fighting charges. Finch and his wife accepted a plea deal earlier this month for holding 10 dogs in what …
Read More »A grand jury has indicted three teenagers related to a triple homicide in Marion County. The State Attorney’s Office for the 5th Judicial Circuit announced on Tuesday that 17-year-old Robert Robinson, 16-year-old Tahj Brewton and 12-year-old Christopher Atkins are all charged as adults. Robinson and Brewton were indicted on three …
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TALLAHASSEE — Amid a constitutional challenge by a group of cities, Florida lawmakers have approved revamping a 2021 law aimed at shielding police departments from budget cuts. Leon County Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh last week put on hold the legal challenge, saying the “parties need time to confer with …
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The permitless carry bill, House Bill 543, also dubbed “constitutional carry” by proponents, goes into effect July 1. The bill allows for the concealed carry of firearms without the need for a Concealed Weapon and Firearm License, which is acquired through a course. Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the …
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With dozens of vacancies across different local agencies, Alachua County has not been immune to national law enforcement recruitment challenges. As local law enforcement applicant pools dwindle, agencies in Alachua County are launching new efforts to combat recruiting struggles and strengthen their relationship with the community. The Alachua County Sheriff’s …
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Nearly two years after a man was shot and killed at a car wash in Gainesville, a six-person jury on Monday night convicted Eugene Javon Patrick of second-degree murder. Circuit Judge James Colaw immediately sentenced him to life in prison. The trial, which lasted seven hours from opening statement to …
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The City of Live Oak wants to stop people from using backyard sheds for housing. Council Member Lynda Owens says she’s received several complaints from residents. “Let’s ask our code enforcement to start penalizing people who are living in these sheds,” Owens says. “I know housing is an issue. It’s …
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WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville