News Flash

State Attorney's Office has new Middle Keys location

MARATHON, June 26, 2020 – The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office Middle Keys office has moved about a mile south on U.S. 1 to a location at 2975 Overseas Highway, on the oceanside.

The new office, called the Marathon Professional Cen...

Investigation finds police shooting was justified

KEY WEST, June 29, 2020 – The State Attorney’s Office has closed its investigation into a police-involved shooting in October 2019.

After thoroughly reviewing all of the reports and evidence submitted to this office regarding the office...

Three thefts and a drug case lead to nearly three years in prison

KEY WEST, June 25, 2020 – A Miami man is off to prison for nearly three years on counts of theft in Key West, Marathon and Key Largo.

Isaac Morejon, 30, on June 19 admitted violating probation in three separate grand-theft cases, as well as one d...

Judge hands Key West man two years for repeated thefts

KEY WEST, June 23, 2020 – A Key West man with a history of theft has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Jeremy Westbrook, 26, was sentenced June 18 by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones after Westbrook pleaded no contest in one case...

Keys man may have been victim of attempted Social Security scam

FLORIDA KEYS, June 19, 2020 – A Key West man has reported that this week he received a robo-call purportedly from the Social Security Administration telling him his Social Security account “has been compromised.” It asked him...

New COVID-19 scam targets seniors with fake grants

FLORIDA KEYS, June 18, 2020 – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued a new consumer alert to warn Floridians about a new scam targeting seniors with offers of fake COVID-19 grants.

The Florida Attorney General’s Office is rece...

Keys man jailed in alleged $200,000-plus contracting scheme

KEY WEST, June 12, 2020 – A Key West man who allegedly ripped off a friend for hundreds of thousands of dollars through illegal contracting has been jailed on several felony counts.

Cristian Swanson, 60, was arrested June 11 for unlicensed contra...

Alleged illegal contractor jailed on two counts

KEY WEST, June 10, 2020 – A Key West man who took nearly $30,000 for two Lower Keys construction projects where no work was done has been arrested.

Based on a probable-cause affidavit filed by State Attorney’s Office Investigator Frank ...

Pandemic further postpones jury trials in Monroe, elsewhere

FLORIDA KEYS, June 9, 2020 – Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady on June 8 extended the current suspension of state jury proceedings including grand juries, jury selection, and criminal and...

Don't click on suspicious links: New online scams seen in the Keys

FLORIDA KEYS, June 5, 2020 – If in recent days you’ve received unsolicited text messages or emails from Costco or Amazon purporting to give you financial rewards for completing a survey, telling you that you are eligible for a reimburs...

Keys man gets 4 years in prison for multiple felony offenses

KEY WEST, June 4, 2020 – A Key West man is returning to state prison for drug, weapon, theft and driving offenses.

Jo Morgan IV, 37, was sentenced on May 28 to 48 months by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones. Assistant State Attorney Cr...

Charges filed in teen's stabbing death

PLANTATION KEY, May 28. 2020 – An Islamorada person is charged with second-degree murder as an adult in the slaying off his brother, who was stabbed to death at an Upper Keys condominium.

Daniel Weisberger, 17, is accused of stabbing his brother ...

Resumption of civil jury trials possible in pilot program being developed

FLORIDA KEYS, May 22, 2020 – Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady issued an order late on May 21 creating a new pilot program for civil jury trials to be held using remote technology. It will explore ways to let jury trials begin a...

Summerland Key man gets 3-plus years for stabbing assault

KEY WEST, May 19, 2020 – A Summerland Key man is off to prison for more than three years for a Lower Keys stabbing, as well as driving offenses.

On May 14, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones handed Patrick Nowicki, 57, a 39-month Florid...

Repeated probation violations end in 2.5 years in state prison

KEY WEST, May 14, 2020 – A Key West man who repeatedly violated probation stemming from a 2017 arrest has been sentenced to state prison following his most recent transgressions.

Roger Walls, 48, was given several second chances by Monroe County ...

COVID-19 pushes jury trials back to the beginning of July

FLORIDA KEYS, May 11, 2020 – Acting on the recommendations of a statewide Court Continuity Workgroup, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady issued a new emergency order May 4 increasing the list of proceedings state courts, includin...

SAO investigator steps up game to volunteer during COVID-19

KEY WEST, May 8, 2020 – Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic emergency, there has been no shortage of Florida Keys residents stepping up to help their neighbors with food giveaways for those in need.

They include State Attorney Dennis Ward, who spen...

Prison for Lower Keys man who repeatedly flees from police

KEY WEST, May 6, 2020 – A Little Torch Key man is heading to state prison for fleeing law enforcement officers in two separate cases.

Shawn Meehan, 29, was sentenced April 30 by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones to 22 months in custody...

State Attorney's Office helping man checkpoint to stem COVID-19

KEY LARGO, May 5, 2020 -- The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office has been helping out manning the U.S. 1 checkpoint into the Keys to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Upper Keys Investigator Roy Bogue has volunteered each Monday from 6 a.m. ...

Arsonist gets three-plus years for Thanksgiving boat fire

KEY WEST, April 30, 2020 – A Key West man has been sentenced to more than three years in state prison after pleading out to burning down a boat at a marina while residents gathered for a holiday celebration.

Yimis Martell-Roman, 41, was sentenced...

Serial fraudster gets prison time for his latest crimes

MARATHON, April 24, 2020 – A Marathon man with a history of fraud-related crimes has been sentenced to 30 months in state prison after entering an admission to violating probation imposed in two separate cases for illegal contracting and grand t...

Newest assistant state attorney sworn in via teleconference

MARATHON, April 22, 2020 – The State Attorney’s Office’s newest assistant state attorney was sworn in on April 21, but in a manner not done with any prosecutor before.

Acting Circuit Court Judge Ruth Becker swore in Sherry Ive...

Jail time possible for violating rental ban during COVID-19 emergency

FLORIDA KEYS, April 13, 2020 – With owners of vacation rentals in Monroe County violating the State of Emergency declared by Governor Ron DeSantis, Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward says the State Attorney’s Office will seek jai...

Limits on court proceedings are extended through May

FLORIDA KEYS, April 7, 2020 – Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady on April 6 issued a new emergency order suspending jury trials in Florida and extending other state legal deadlines through the end of May because of the COVID-19 p...

COVID-19 scammers now targeting federal stimulus money

FLORIDA KEYS, April 6, 2020 – With the recent financial stimulus packages passed by Congress to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, more scammers are floating to the surface.

The economic stimulus payments related to the ongoing COVID-19 pande...

Keys included in governor's "public access" executive order

FLORIDA KEYS, March 31, 2020 – Because of the threat of spreading the COVID-19 virus, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on March 30 issued an executive order to “restrict public access to businesses and facilities deemed non-essential&...

Beware of scammers trying to cash in on COVID-19 virus

FLORIDA KEYS, March 27, 2020 – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued a consumer alert about new scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scams run the gambit from text messages and phone calls to imposters posing as health workers o...

Suspension of some court proceedings is extended due to virus

FLORIDA KEYS, March 25, 2020 – Due to the threat of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, all criminal and civil trials, jury selection and grand jury proceedings are now suspended through April 17.

Florida Supreme Court Chief Judge Charles Canady is...

New regulations issued for Keys courts in light of COVID-19

FLORIDA KEYS, March 19, 2020 – Due to the threat of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the three Monroe County courthouses in Key West, Marathon and Plantation Key are now closed to the general public “with the exception of those person...

Some court proceedings suspended due to COVID-19 virus

FLORIDA KEYS, March 16, 2020 – Florida Supreme Court Chief Judge Charles Canady has ordered that state courts statewide, including in Monroe County, suspend some proceedings through Friday, March 27, due to the COVID-19 virus epidemic.

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COVID-19 triggers the anti-price-gouging law in Florida

FLORIDA KEYS, March 14, 2020 – Before, during and after a governor-declared State of Emergency in Florida, people with bad intentions sometimes take advantage of the situation and raise the price of goods or services to what state law c...

62 months in prison for Key West drug dealer

KEY WEST, March 13, 2020 – A Key West man is heading to prison after pleading out in four criminal cases against him.

Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson sentenced Calvin Lee Jr., 28, to 62 months, or just over five years, in state custody to be foll...

Man charged with ripping off condo association for $50,000

KEY WEST, March 5, 2020 – A Homestead man who said he could perform stucco repairs at a Key West condominium complex and accepted $50,000 to do it allegedly never performed any of the work and refused to return the money, despite being given sev...

2019 brings justice for crime victims, marine environment

FLORIDA KEYS, March 3, 2020 – The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office in 2019 dealt with its share of violent crimes, environmental resource cases, contractor fraud, drug cases and much, much more.

Our office’s 50 employees ...

Probation revoked, man gets 21 months for knife threat in restaurant

KEY WEST, February 25, 2020 – A Key West man previously arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon has been sentenced to state prison after having his probation revoked following another arrest.

On February 19, Darin Reinsmith, 53, was ...

Undersized snapper lands man a week in the Keys jail

PLANTATION KEY, February 13, 2020 – A Hialeah man caught with undersized fish off the Upper Keys late last year has been sentenced to six days in the Monroe County Detention Center.

Jose Gonzalez, 53, was sentenced February 12 by Monroe County Ju...

Man gets jail for taking protected queen conchs from Islamorada

PLANTATION KEY, February 6, 2020 – A Georgia man who harvested 10 queen conchs, which is illegal in Florida, off Islamorada was ordered to jail after pleading out in the case against him.

On February 5, Turner Rentz, 54, of Marietta pleaded no co...

Two work-crew members convicted in Tavernier condo burglary

PLANTATION KEY, January 31, 2020 – Two Homestead men who stole items from a Tavernier condominium in the months following Hurricane Irma in 2017 have been convicted of burglary and petit theft and face prison time.

A six-person jury convicted Jor...

Keys drug dealer returns to prison for the third time

KEY WEST, January 24, 2020 – A Key West woman with a prison record and a Monroe County criminal history going back to the early 2000s is off to state prison again following pleas in her five most recent cases.

Elizabeth Ebinger, 49, pleaded no co...

Illegal contractor ordered to pay thousands in restitution, gets probation

KEY WEST, January 21, 2020 – A man who illegally represented himself as a licensed contractor and took $7,000 from a Key West man for home repairs that weren’t performed has pleaded out and been ordered to pay full restitution to the v...

Key West jury convicts man in home invasion, life sentence possible

KEY WEST, January 17, 2020 – A Central Florida man faces up to life in prison after a jury convicted him on January 16th of several charges arising from a 2018 Key West home invasion that started out as a sex-for-hire incident.

Jason Robinson, 36...

Vandal who ignored terms of probation has it revoked, sent to prison

KEY WEST, January 16, 2020 – An Illinois man who vandalized a car at a Key West resort, causing thousands of dollars in damage, then absconded from supervised probation has been ordered to Florida State Prison.

Preston Whiting, 28, of Kewanee, Il...

Cocaine seller heads back to prison for 20 months

KEY WEST, January 15, 2020 – A Big Pine Key man is heading back to state prison after admitting to numerous instances of violating probation imposed in a drug case.

Adrian Stubbs, 41, was sentenced January 9 by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones ...

State Attorney's Office probe leads to arrest for illegal contracting

KEY WEST, January 14, 2020 – A Big Coppitt Key man allegedly took tens of thousands of dollars from a Key West resident for contracting work he didn’t complete and wasn’t licensed to do.

Christopher Wardlow, 54, was arrested J...

Judge hands down punishment for lobster violations

PLANTATION KEY, January 9, 2020 – A man caught with lobster not legal to harvest in Upper Keys waters has learned his punishment.

Vaughn King, 52, pleaded guilty January 8 to eight counts of possessing undersized lobsters and one count of possess...

Jail and a lifetime fishing ban for commercial fishing violations

MARATHON, January 6, 2020 – A Marathon commercial fisherman can no longer fish in Florida at all and is in jail after pleading out to more than 200 lobster and other marine-related violations.

In a negotiated plea on January 3, Alfredo Gonzalez, ...

Burglar's probation revoked after drug arrest, gets three years

KEY WEST, January 4, 2020 – A Key West man given a break in sentencing for a past residential burglary received no such break during sentencing for his latest offenses.

On December 20, Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson sentenced Lavon Gunn, 33, to ...

Three drug deals translate into three-year prison sentence

KEY WEST, January 3, 2020 – A Key West drug dealer is headed to prison for three years after pleading out in three cases against him.

Michael Hennigan Jr., 33, pleaded no contest to sale of fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a church, sale of fentanyl...

Two years in prison for man who threatened others with a gun

KEY WEST, December 27, 2019 – A Summerland Key man has been sentenced to prison for threatening two others with a gun.

On December 18, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones handed Joseph Skiver, 37, 24 months after Skiver pleaded no contes...

Judge metes out punishment for Hurricane Irma theft

KEY WEST, December 23, 2019 – A Key West man has learned that time can’t insulate oneself from consequences for crimes.

On December 17, Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson placed Francesco Drago, 51, of Key West on 18 months of probation af...

Husband joins wife in getting arrested for sales-tax theft

PLANTATION KEY, December 20, 2019 – The husband of a woman previously arrested for felony theft for allegedly failing to remit taxes on a condominium they rent out has now been charged himself.

Nicholas Bennett, 52, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, wa...

Judge sends Keys thief back to state prison

KEY WEST, December 19, 2019 – A Key West man who previously served time for numerous theft-related charges is heading back to prison after failing to stay out of trouble.

Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson sentenced Damian Cawvey, 42, to 42 months i...

Three men, one with a history, penalized for lobster violations

PLANTATION KEY, December 16, 2019 – Two of three men arrested last year for lobster violations in Upper Keys waters have pleaded guilty and were given a host of penalties for their crimes.

Luis Vergel, 72, who has a history of marine-related viol...

Tavernier woman accused of vacation-rental tax theft

PLANTATION KEY, December 14, 2019 – A Tavernier woman accused of failing to remit taxes on a condominium she rents out has been charged with felony theft.

Dessiree Bennett, 54, was arrested on a warrant a little before midnight December 11, charg...

Osprey killer ordered to work with animals, receives other penalties

KEY WEST, December 13, 2019 – A man who shot a protected bird in Key West last year has pleaded out to killing the osprey.

Josiah Fetzer, 23, of Valley City, Ohio, pleaded no contest to and was adjudicated guilty on December 11 of cruelty to animals and vi...

Key West man returns to state prison for earlier battery

KEY WEST, December 10, 2019 – A Key West man previously given probation for felony battery is headed to prison for repeatedly violating that probation.

Jose Vigil Jr., 35, was sentenced November 27 to 30.975 months by Monroe County Circuit Court ...

Commercial fisherman jailed, has license suspended

KEY WEST, December 9, 2019 – A Key West commercial fisherman headed to jail, can’t ply his trade for half a year and received numerous other penalties after pleading out December 4 to dozens of counts of possessing undersized lobster.

Mario Morales, 67, en...

Judge: Domestic violence victim doesn't have to produce dating history

KEY WEST, December 6, 2019 – A Monroe County judge has overruled a lower court’s order that a victim of domestic violence release to her alleged abuser’s defense her 10-year dating history and contact information from past re...

Key Largo man convicted of post-hurricane felony dumping

MARATHON, December 6, 2019 – A Key Largo man who illegally deposited tree limbs and branches along U.S. 1 in the immediate months following Hurricane Irma has been convicted of felony dumping.

In a trial by court December 4, Acting Circuit Court Judge Ruth...

Miami Lakes man arrested for Keys homestead exemption fraud

PLANTATION KEY, December 3, 2019 – A Miami Lakes man has been arrested for fraudulently claiming a homestead exemption on a Florida Keys property even though his primary residence is in Miami-Dade County.

Yusmel Bocalandro, 39, was booked into th...

Poachers of 320 lobsters get jail and other severe penalties

MARATHON, November 7, 2019 – Four of seven men arrested in 2017 for illegally harvesting 320 lobsters and other marine life from Marathon waters over two days have been ordered to jail followed by lengthy terms of probation.

They pleaded guilty t...

Repeat offender gets 30 months for theft-related crimes

MARATHON, October 30, 2019 – A Middle Keys woman with a lengthy Monroe County arrest history is off to state prison after pleading out to theft-related and other charges against her.

Tanya Rego, 32, was sentenced October 24 by Acting Monroe Count...

Three years for illegal contractor who ripped off seniors after hurricane

MARATHON, October 28, 2019 – A Marathon man has been sentenced to Florida State Prison for bilking two Middle Keys senior citizens out of thousands of dollars under the guise of home repairs in the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Irma.

On ...

Stolen loaded gun at school nets a year in jail

KEY WEST, October 25, 2019 – A Summerland Key teen who stole a gun and brought it loaded to Key West High School earlier this year pleaded no contest to three felonies on October 24 and has been sentenced to jail.

Matthew Whitener Jr., 16, pleade...

Keys judge gives Key West drug dealer three years

KEY WEST, October 23, 2019 – A Key West man is heading to Florida State Prison after pleading out to two drug cases from earlier this year.

On October 10, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones sentenced Julio Machado, 45, to 36 months in c...

Cocaine dealer gets two years in state prison

KEY WEST, October 17, 2019 – A Big Pine Key man found with illegal narcotics during a traffic stop is heading to Florida State Prison after pleading no contest to sale of cocaine.

On October 10, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones sentenced Bradle...

Big Pine brawler gets three-plus years in state prison

KEY WEST, October 16, 2019 – A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to more than three years in Florida State Prison for instigating a fight with several people and battering police officers who responded.

Shawn Roehm, 43, pleaded no contest on October 10 t...

State Attorney's Office honors staff members for years of service

MARATHON, October 15, 2019 -- The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office capped off a morning of training October 14 in Marathon by honoring several staff members for their years of service.

Cece Niles was honored for 30 years (actually, 31 years, four mont...

Marathon drug dealer faces possible long prison stretch after pleading out

MARATHON, October 2, 2019 – A Marathon drug dealer faces a possible long stretch in Florida State Prison after pleading no contest in four felony cases against him.

On September 27 before Acting Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Ruth Becker, Enri...

Keys judge hands fraudster five-year prison term

KEY WEST, September 24, 2019 – A Hialeah man has been sentenced to five years in Florida State Prison after failing to live within the terms of his probation for fraud.

Ronald Cordero, 27, was sentenced on September 19 by Monroe County Judge Mark...

Convicted auto burglar heads back to prison following latest break-ins

KEY WEST, September 23, 2019 – A Key West man who has served time in prison for auto burglary is heading back after committing more break-ins.

Carlos Solis, 41, pleaded no contest on September 12 to two counts of burglary of an unoccupied structu...

It's six-plus years behind bars for Key West drug dealer

KEY WEST, September 20, 2019 – A Key West drug dealer has been sentenced to Florida State Prison after settling five criminal cases against him.

On September 12, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones handed Christopher Garcia, 36, a senten...

Miami man gets jail for bilking Keys residents in illegal contracting

KEY WEST, September 19, 2019 – A Miami man has pleaded out to several criminal charges related to illegal building contracting in Monroe County and been sentenced to six months in jail.

Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones handed down the...

Prison for woman who stole SUV, crashed into multiple vehicles

KEY WEST, September 18, 2019 – A Florida Keys judge has sentenced a woman to three years in Florida State Prison for stealing a vehicle from the Lower Keys, then crashing into multiple vehicles.

Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones senten...

Two attorneys join the State Attorney's Office in the Upper Keys

PLANTATION KEY, September 17, 2019 – The State Attorney’s Office has welcomed two new assistant state attorneys to its ranks.

Jorge Jaile, 28, and Paul Vargo, 34, were informed September 16 that they had passed The Florida Bar exam and ...

Serial thief lands in state prison for a year

KEY WEST, September 13, 2019 – A Key West man with a history of stealing is off to Florida State Prison after pleading out in the latest case against him.

On September 10 before Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson, Terence Welch, 58, pleaded no conte...

Keys jury convicts Naples man for 43 undersized snapper

PLANTATION KEY, August 28, 2019 – A six-person jury needed only about 30 minutes to convict a Naples man of possessing far more (and undersized) fish than allowed under law.

Humberto Hernandez, 39, was convicted on August 22 of possessing undersi...

Big Pine man who stole from his mother gets prison time

KEY WEST, August 26, 2019 – A Big Pine Key man who violated several terms of his probation for fraud has had that probation revoked and been sent to prison.

James Collins, 25, was ordered to prison for 18 months on August 13 by Monroe County Cour...

Judge sends drug dealer back to prison for the fourth time

KEY WEST, August 23, 2019 – A Key West man with a long criminal history is making his fourth trip to prison following his plea to several drug-related charges.

Marcus Thurston, 34, pleaded no contest August 19 to sale of cocaine, possession of he...

Habitual drunk driver given four years in state prison

KEY WEST, August 21, 2019 – A Daytona Beach man with a history of drunk driving has been sentenced to four years in Florida State Prison for his latest conviction, this one in Monroe County.

Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson sentenced Shawn Ryerson...

Fight, damage to bar supply lead to 30 months in prison

KEY WEST, August 20, 2019 – A Summerland Key man is returning to Florida State Prison after pleading out to several criminal charges.

On August 8, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones sentenced Nicholas Merkey, 31, to 30 months in prison ...

Judge hands down 20 months to drug dealer

KEY WEST, August 19, 2019 – A Key West man has been ordered to prison for 20 months after pleading out in two drug cases.

Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones handed down the sentence to Frederick Maurer III, 33, on August 8 after Maurer ...

Man gets 3.5 years in state prison for five drug cases

KEY WEST, August 16, 2019 – A Florida City man is off to Florida State Prison after pleading guilty to nine felony drug offenses, plus a misdemeanor, in five separate cases.

Benjamin Lawrence, 33, entered the plea August 8 before Monroe County Ci...

Keys man gets prison for battery and DUI

KEY WEST, August 14, 2019 – A Big Pine Key man is heading to prison following his plea to battery and drunk driving-related offenses in two separate cases.

Kurt Shufelt, 52, pleaded no contest to felony battery, felony driving with a suspended license, fel...

Illegal lobster and fish haul lands man jail time

PLANTATION KEY, August 2, 2019 – A Miami man found with a trove of illegally caught marine life has pleaded out to several charges and been ordered to jail.

Monroe County Judge Sharon Hamilton sentenced Juan Aro, 46, to 45 days in the Monroe County Detenti...

Judge orders jail for Homestead man in lobster-dumping incident

PLANTATION KEY, August 1, 2019 – A Homestead man’s weekend plans are set for the foreseeable future.

Javier Morales, 42, was sentenced July 29 to 60 days in the Monroe County Detention Center after a six-person jury convicted him of interfering with a cons...

Two charged in alleged illegal airport contracting scheme

KEY WEST, July 30, 2019 – Two Stock Island residents face charges for allegedly working together so their company would get contracting work paid by Monroe County government that was authorized by one of them, then a county employee.

Carlos Montero Delgado...

Drug dealer heads back to prison for the fourth time

KEY WEST, July 25, 2019 – A Key West man is returning to prison for the fourth time after pleading no contest to two counts of selling cocaine.

On July 23, Monroe County Judge Mark Wilson sentenced Kelly Clark, 35, to 83 months, or just under seven years, ...

Tampa man gets prison term for repeated driving violations

KEY WEST, July 17, 2019 – A Tampa man who repeatedly drives without a valid license has been sentenced to state prison for his latest offense.

 On July 11, Jeffrey West, 53, was given 32 months by Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones after...

Enjoy lobster mini-season but stay within the rules

FLORIDA KEYS, July 16, 2019 – Florida’s two-day lobster mini-season arrives near the end of July, and those on the hunt for the savory crustaceans should know there are rules.

Those cited by law enforcement for violating the regulations can choose to fight...

Judge hands woman 17-month term in two separate cases

KEY WEST, July 11, 2019 – A Stock Island woman has been sentenced to Florida State Prison after pleading out to six criminal charges in two separate cases.

Jerneen Green, 44, pleaded no contest on July 1 to two counts of possession of a firearm (ammunition...

Key West man gets eight years for killing another with a punch

KEY WEST, June 26, 2019 – A homeless Key West man who sucker-punched another man twice, killing him, has been ordered to state prison.

On June 24, Fred Hauch, 55, pleaded no contest to manslaughter in front of Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Koen...

Man gets 10-plus years for wife's boating death in Key West Harbor

KEY WEST, June 19, 2019 – A former Key West boater has been sentenced to more than a decade in Florida State Prison for causing the death of his wife, who died after she was tossed from a boat he operated while drunk.

Robert Everson, 64, pleaded no contest...

Multiple Battery Counts Lead to Prison Term

KEY WEST, June 13, 2019 – A Key West man facing several battery counts has been ordered to state prison, closing the book on the charges against him.

Joseph Silva, 25, pleaded no contest on June 6 to all counts. Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones...

Keys Man Gets Eight Years for Injury-Causing DUI Crash

PLANTATION KEY, June 12, 2019 – A Tavernier man who severely injured a Key Largo motorcyclist by running him down while driving drunk on U.S. 1 last year has been sentenced to eight years in Florida State Prison.

At sentencing, Monroe County Circuit Court ...

Lower Keys Car Thief Sent to Prison

KEY WEST, June 11, 2019 – A West Virginia man has been sentenced to Florida State Prison after failing to abide by his terms of probation for stealing a car.

On June 6, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones revoked the probation of Jeremy Sanger, 36...

Key Largo Man Charged With Post-Hurricane Theft From FEMA

PLANTATION KEY, June 7, 2019 – A Key Largo man has been charged with grand theft for allegedly bilking a federal agency out of disaster-relief money following Hurricane Irma.

Alfredo M. Latour Jr., 54, was booked into the Monroe County Detention Center on ...

Key Largo Man Jailed for Illegal Contracting

PLANTATION KEY, May 15, 2019 – A Key Largo man has been charged with illegal contracting after allegedly accepting $4,000 from a Tavernier woman for plumbing work even though he isn’t a licensed plumber.

Daniel Zumer, 61, was served with an arrest warrant ...

It's Back to Prison for a Fifth Time for Keys Drug Dealer

KEY WEST, MAY 14, 2019 – A Key West man is heading back to Florida State Prison for the fifth time after pleading out in six criminal cases.

Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones sentenced Delmon Washington, 41, on May 9 after Washington pleaded no ...

Man Who Admits Stealing for a Living Sent to Prison

PLANTATION KEY, March 28, 2019 – A Miami man has been sentenced to 20 months in Florida State Prison after pleading no contest to stealing bottles of wine and other items from three Publix supermarkets in the Florida Keys.

Roberto Larias-DeLeon, 59, pleade...

Repeat Probation Violations Land Dealer in Prison

KEY WEST, April 3, 2019 – A Stock Island man is off to prison for 30 months after admitting he yet again violated his probation in a drug case.

Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Mark Jones sentenced James Parker, 50, on March 29 in a case dating back five ...

Be Responsible as Lobster Season Ends

APRIL 1, 2019, Florida Keys -- Florida’s eight-month regular recreational and commercial lobster season ended on March 31, meaning no harvesting of lobster until the two-day mini-season arrives July 24 and 25. Then the next regular recreational and commer...