August 6, 2021
Levy County Sheriff’s Office Detectives began an investigation in May of 2021 into allegations that Mitchell A. Hammond (6/24/64) sexually abused two children under the age of 12 and one child under the age of 16. These acts occurred over a period of years. In the months following the opening of this investigation, Detectives gathered evidence to support the statements taken from the victims and applied for an arrest warrant charging Hammond with two counts of capital sexual battery and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation of a person under 16.
On July 6, 2021 Judge James Browning granted the warrant application and assigned a $2.5 million dollar bond. Members of the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office located Hammond who was taken into custody yesterday in Melrose, Florida. Hammond will be held in Putnam County awaiting transfer to Levy County.