Car Burglaries on the Rise

 January 29, 2022

Levy County Deputies are investigating a rash of car burglaries in the Bronson and Williston areas. Detectives have information that a car burglary ring is operating in our area and we want to caution every citizen to LOCK YOUR VEHICLE.

Do NOT leave valuables or any firearms inside of locked cars. Take any valuable item inside with you each night.

Detectives are working with Law Enforcement in neighboring counties. Information indicates that this group is known to be armed. Any home owner observing suspicious activity in their neighborhood is asked to immediately call 911.

Pictured above is an actual photo of the suspects captured by a home security system near Williston. A faint image of a dark color small four door car can be seen in the background. It is believed the suspects used this vehicle to flee the scene. Anyone who knows the identity of these individuals is asked to call the Levy County Sheriff’s Office at 352-486-5111. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477. You could be eligible for a cash reward.

Naked Man Destroys Door and Runs From Deputies

 

January 26, 2022

Deputies responded to a suspicious person report on NW 128^th Place west of Chiefland on Friday, January 21^st. Deputies were told while enroute to this location that the complainant said the man had stripped naked in her front yard and kicked her door in. Deputies arrived and spotted the nude subject who immediately fled on foot through multiple yards and refused to stop. He was apprehended a short distance from the scene after the pursing deputies used their Tasers.

The subject, identified as Travis Kiehl (3/4/74) of Chiefland, was arrested and transported to the Levy County Detention Center. Kiehl was charged with indecent exposure, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace. He bond has been set at $17,500.00.

Kiehl is no stranger to Levy County Law Enforcement. Deputies have seventeen documented encounters with him since 2017 and have arrested him five times. During this arrest it appeared Kiehl was in an altered state of mind. The Manatee Farms subdivision has become a hotspot for illegal drug use. We encourage our citizens in this neighborhood to contact us immediately when they observe suspicious activity. Sheriff McCallum is committed to combating illegal drug sales and use throughout the entire county. Illegal drug hotspots will continue to be a focus of our enforcement efforts. As always, we need our public’s assistance. You can contact us directly at 352-486-5111 (report a crime option) or if you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477.

Operation Safe Haven Nets 9 Arrests

Christopher Hahn

January 20, 2022

Operation Safe Haven named by and for the hard and diligent work of the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Unit netted nine arrests for various sex offender registration violations. The operation encompassed nearly two months of hard work in locating and verifying sex offender’s addresses and ensuring all other State mandated registration requirements for convicted sex offenders living in Levy County were within compliance.

Most notable was the arrest of Christopher Hahn (5/29/81). Hahn was an absconded sex offender from Duval County. Hahn encountered law enforcement in another jurisdiction and claimed to live at an address in Levy County. He was recently released from prison and failed to appear for his second registration appointment in Jacksonville.

Levy County Detectives discovered Hahn was living in a tent on a vacant parcel of land near Bronson unbeknownst to law enforcement or the public. He was not immediately found on the property and made no attempt to register this location as his place of residence. Detectives learned he was an over the road truck driver and since Hahn had absconded, he visited nearly 20 other states as a truck driver.

Detectives secured a warrant for Hahn’s arrest and requested the assistance of the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend him. Hahn was located at a truck stop in West Virginia by Federal Agents and was taken into custody.

Eight other arrests were made during this operation and are as follow:

·       Jerome Clemons (5/6/77) of Trenton

·       Karen “Terry” Edwards (11/1/71) of Chiefland

·       Anthony Hutto (4/18/71) of Bronson

·       Fredrick Carpenter (8/29/66) of Chiefland

·       Michael Farley (6/7/55) of Morriston

·       Alexander Clary (4/27/58) of Williston

·       Steven Stacy (7/12/83) of Williston

·       Nicole Down (3/4/79) of Cedar Key

 

Sheriff McCallum is dedicated to ensuring the safety of his community for all who live here or visit Levy County. Sheriff McCallum said, “The hard and dedicated work these Detectives invested into this operation is evident. Sex offenders who choose to live in Levy County will not be allowed to simply disappear. Our Detectives will guarantee they are living by the requirements the State has mandated and if they do not, we will arrest them.”    

 

LCSO MAKES ARREST FOR SEX CRIME AGAINST CHILD

 

On January 13, 2022, Detectives from the Levy County Sheriff’s Office arrested Adam Robert Hillis (2-28-93) on one count of a sex crime committed against a child under the age of 12.  The arrest was made at the Levy County Detention Center where Hillis is awaiting trial for other sex crimes he allegedly committed against another minor.  Hillis has been in custody since January 22, 2021.  Hillis was given a one million dollar bond on the latest charge. 

After Hillis’ 2021 arrest, the juvenile victim in the current case was emboldened to come forward.   The juvenile disclosed her victimization to a family member who then reported it to law enforcement. 

The evidence in the case indicated that Hillis engaged in unlawful sexual acts with a victim under the age of 12.  Some of the offenses occurred while the child was supposed to be attending church services.  The offenses occurred in the Inglis area of the county. 

LCSO and other involved agencies have taken the necessary steps to provide for the safety and follow up care for the victim.  Detectives are very concerned about the possibility of additional child victims.  Any citizens who may have information regarding other potential victims are asked to contact LCSO at 352-486-5111 or 911.  Reports can also be made anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 1-877-349-8477.    LCSO acknowledges and appreciates the assistance of the University of Florida Child Protection Team during this investigation.  We encourage parents to always be attentive and aware when choosing to leave their children in the care of others. 

 

  

Lakeland Man Sentenced to Life for 2016 Murder/Home Invasion

 

January 7, 2022

On May 2, 2016 Levy County Deputies responded to a reported home invasion robbery in Morriston, Florida. Detectives investigated the robbery which turned violent and took the life of Francisco De Jesus Soto (31). Johnny Tadree Turner (4/17/94) of Lakeland, Florida was identified through forensic evidence collected at the scene. Turner was arrested and booked into the Levy County Detention Center on November 18, 2016 and charged with First Degree Murder and Home Invasion Robbery with a Firearm. He has been held in custody with NO bond since his arrest.

On January 5, 2022 Turner entered an open plea of guilty to the Honorable Circuit Judge William Davis. This case had numerous aggravating factors which led Judge Davis to impose the sentence of Life in prison in the Florida Department of Corrections.

Sheriff McCallum said the decision Turner made to enter his guilty was in part due to the excellent and exhaustive work his Deputies and Detectives did during this investigation. The sheer volume of evidence identifying Turner as the murderer was undeniable. The open plea of guilty saved countless hours and the huge expense of a jury trial. We hope that the family of Mr. Soto can now be comforted knowing that justice has been served, stated Sheriff McCallum.