Chiefland Woman Arrested for Child Neglect

 

March 31, 2023

Levy County Deputies responded to a home located in the Manatee Farms Subdivision west of Chiefland. The complainant told the 911 operator a toddler, approximately 3 years old, wandered onto her property and the parent could not be found. The child was filthy, covered in bug bites and scratches, had a severe case of diaper rash and had ticks embedded in her scalp. Levy County EMS was dispatched to evaluate the child as deputies began searching for the child’s parent.

Deputies located a female asleep on the floor inside a tin shed on a neighboring property. Deputies identified the woman as Bryana Hall (1/10/2001) of Chiefland. Ms. Hall was taken to the location where the child was being evaluated. She told deputies she was the toddler’s care taker. The subsequent investigation determined that based on the child’s current physical and medical condition she required advanced care and was taken to a local hospital. Ms. Hall was placed under arrest for child neglect.

The Department of Children and Family Services has been contacted and took custody of the child. Ms. Hall was booked into the Levy County Detention Center where she is being held on a $100,000.00 bond.

Meth Fueled Morning Rant Results in Arrest

March 23, 2023

At 8:16 a.m. yesterday morning the Levy County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center received a panicked emergency call. The caller reported a male walking on the Greenway Trial in Fanning Springs acting erratically while waiving around a hatchet. The caller feared this person, who was walking in the direction of a business office and around occupied camper trailers, could potentially hurt someone.

Deputies arrived on scene and confronted the subject walking down the Greenway Trail. The deputy saw the man tuck the hatchet into his rear waist band in an attempt to hide it. The man, later identified as Rayford Delton Holder (8/30/86) of Lake City, took an aggressive stance, balled his fists and exclaimed, “I am a god!” Holder then turned and fled from deputies in the direction of an open convenience store.

Deputy Nelson Macias and Sergeant Tom Martin feared this armed individual could harm nearby patrons and gave chase. Deputy Macias was able to use his vehicle to cut Holder off which immediately drew a deadly reaction from him. Holder pulled the hatchet from his rear waistband and began running toward Deputy Macias’s patrol vehicle. Deputy Macias attempted to avoid Holder who bounced off the patrol vehicle and fled into an adjacent wooded lot.

Additional deputies and Chiefland Police Department (CPD) officers arrived to assist. CPD Chief Scott Anderson and Lt. Macy located and confronted Holder on a nearby road. Holder dropped the hatchet when ordered and surrendered. Holder exclaimed the methamphetamines found in his possession were for his ADHD. He also told deputies he was a superhuman angel and he didn’t want to hurt them, but he could if he wanted.

Holder was booked into the Levy County Detention Center and has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement, resisting arrest with violence and possession of meth. His bond has been set at $65,000.00.

 

Morriston Man Arrested for Lewd Conduct

 

March 21, 2023

On February 10, 2023 Detective Rob Bowers opened an investigation into complaints of lewd conduct by Joseph M. Davis (4/3/78) of Morriston. The complainant alleged Davis acted inappropriately by touching a 12 year old female, exposed his genitals to her and offering the child $3,000 to have sex with him. The investigation and victim testimony gathered with the assisted by Levy County Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocates, developed probable cause for his arrest. Detective Bowers interviewed the subject and a warrant was obtained. A bond of $200,000.00 was assigned to the warrant.

Detective Bowers along with the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force located Davis in Marion County on 3/16/23 and he was taken into custody and booked into the Marion County Jail. Davis will be transferred to the Levy County Detention Center where he will be held on a $200,000.00 bond.

Chiefland Man Arrested for Trafficking in Fentanyl

 

March 17, 2023

On March 15, 2023 Levy County Drug Task Force Detectives arrested Todd G. Myers (6/29/68) of Chiefland for an outstanding warrant for his arrest for sale of methamphetamines. Detectives knew Myers was residing in a camper trailer at 8051 NW 60 Street and when they arrived saw Myers walking out. He was immediately taken into custody. 

Detectives found two pill bottles in his pocket. One contained medication prescribed to him while the other contained 1.32 grams of fentanyl. A subsequent search of the camper trailer where he lived discovered another cache of 18.85 grams of fentanyl. Florida law describes trafficking of fentanyl as being in possession of more than four (4) grams and is a second degree felony that if convicted can result in a 25 year sentence. Fentanyl is the most dangerous street drug and is responsible for an untold number of overdose deaths. Mere exposure to your skin can cause an overdose resulting in death. Myers was also found in possession of 28.09 grams of marijuana and assorted drug paraphernalia.

He was booked in at the Levy County Detention Center and charged with the outstanding warrant as well as the new charges. His bond has been set at $122,500.00.    

Basil May Enters Guilty Plea to Sex Offense

 

March 16, 2023

Basil E. May (5/11/48) of Bronson was arrested September 29, 2021 by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division Detective Rob Bowers for sexual battery after a lengthy investigation. May has been held in custody at the Levy County Detention Center since his arrest.

Yesterday May entered a guilty plea during a hearing and was sentenced to 96 months (8 years) in the Florida Department of Corrections. The plea alleviates a potentially long and complicated trial and relieves the victims of the burden of testifying in open court.

The fully comprehensive investigation conducted by Detective Bowers, the tireless work by the 8^th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and Victim Services left May with little option other than to plead his guilt. Sheriff McCallum wishes to extend our continued thoughts and prayers to these victims. May is deemed a sexual offender and he will be required to register as such for the remainder of his life once released from prison.