Thursday, April 6, 2017

Probationer Buys Alcohol for Minors



April 5, 2017

Billy John Douglas (1-13-58) of Williston was on probation for a variety of serious felony offenses after his release from prison in 2014. On February 25 then again on March 4, Mr. Douglas went to Big O’s Liquor store in Williston and purchased alcoholic beverages for a party. The participants of this party were between 12 and 17 years old. Supplying minors with alcohol is a crime. This crime is also a violation of the conditions of his probation. Douglas was arrested for this violation on March 23, 2017.

However, this is not where the story ends. A mother of one of the children who attended these parties contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report children had not only been provided alcohol, but had also been sexually battered by another party goer.

Investigators interviewed the 15 year old victim and were able to identify the 16 year old suspect. The victim told investigators she became inebriated on the alcohol provided by Douglas and also had been smoking marijuana. She was driven to a secluded location by the suspect identified as Jesse Dalton Fleming (4-15-2000) where she was forcibly sexually battered. She told investigators Fleming then took her back to the party and made her get out of the vehicle. Once inside, she told her friends what happened to her. Friends confirmed her account of the incident when investigators spoke to them.

Investigators went to Fleming’s home to interview him. Investigators saw Fleming drive past his home while they were parked in the driveway. Investigators followed Fleming who turned down a dead end road, but he was eventually stopped when he drove onto private property. Fleming was acting very nervous as investigators tried to speak to him about the allegation. Investigators felt Fleming was attempting to hide contraband before speaking to them. 

Later on this same day while the investigators were interviewing Fleming, they were contacted by the property owner where Fleming was stopped. He inquired if there was a problem on his land. Investigators explained the concerns they had that evidence could have been discarded there. The property owner called back after he searched his property and told investigators he located a recently discarded firearm. Investigators recovered the firearm which had an altered serial number.  
Fleming ultimately confirmed he had thrown the gun from his car prior to investigators stopping him. He also confirmed he did engage in intercourse with the female victim.

Fleming was arrested on April 4, 2017 and has been charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a person 12 or older but less than 16, possession of a weapon by a person under 18 and possession of an altered firearm. He was booked in at the Levy County Detention Facility and then released to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Douglas was booked into the Levy County Detention Facility for VOP and will be additionally charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Douglas has been released to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Detention Bureau for the VOP and will appear in Levy County Courts later for the Contributing to the Delinquency of Minors charge. 

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