Fanning Springs Man Arrested on Molestation Charges

March 10, 2020

Timothy A. Porter 5/27/77 was arrested by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division early this morning on two counts of lewd and lascivious battery and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation involving a victim between the ages of 12 to 16. Porter was employed by the Fanning Springs Fire Department as Chief at the time of his arrest. 

Porter was booked into the Levy County Detention Facility and has not yet been seen by a judge. His bond is pending this appearance.

Update Missing Person John Dunn

March 9, 2020

John “Dax” Dunn left his home in Georgia in February and family has no idea why he left or where he was going. On February 24^th the LCSO saw the missing person flyer posted on various social media sites in Levy County. Detectives contacted the Coweta County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office and then launched a local investigation. The last known location where Mr. Dunn was seen was at the Circle K in Inglis at the intersection of US 19 and CR 40 on February 15^th. 

The search to locate Mr. Dunn focused again on southern Levy County when his truck was located on a private road near the boat ramp located at the end of CR 40, March 3, 2020. Detectives responded to this area and did not discover any evidence of a criminal act but immediately began searching this location for Mr. Dunn. Detectives learned Mr. Dunn rented a 10.5’ green kayak in Crystal River on February 17^th. This kayak has not been returned to the rental agency.

An expansive search for Mr. Dunn began on the day his truck was located. The Levy County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and continued the search throughout the weekend. The LCSO, MCSO, CCSO and FWC through coordinated efforts used helicopters, fixed winged aircraft, shallow water boats and walking grid searches in attempts to locate Mr. Dunn. Islands known to be used as primitive camp site locations in the general vicinity of the Yankeetown and Crystal River area were systematically searched by deputies and FWC investigators, yet no evidence of Mr. Dunn was found. 

The LCSO and the family of Mr. Dunn are still hopeful he will be located. Anyone who has information is asked to contact the LCSO at 352-486-5111.

Missing Person John “Dax” Dunn UPDATE

March 6, 2020

John Dunn disappeared from his home in Coweta County, Georgia on February 13, 2020. Since his disappearance he has not contacted family or friends. His last known location was at the Circle K Convenience store at the intersection of US 19 and CR 40 in Inglis, Florida. Mr. Dunn used his debit card at this store on February 15^th to purchase energy drinks, snack food and gasoline.

The investigation into his disappearance by the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office discovered recent internet search history where Mr. Dunn keyed in on the Cedar Key area of Levy County. Mr. Dunn is an avid fisherman and it was believed he may be traveling to this area. No sightings of Mr. Dunn have been reported since he used his debit card in Inglis.

On March 3, 2020 an Inglis citizen reported a suspicious vehicle parked in a wooded area near the boat ramp at the end of CR 40 in the Inglis/Yankeetown area. Detectives and Deputies responded to this location and verified the vehicle found is owned by Mr. Dunn. An extensive search of the area by air, water and land did not locate Mr. Dunn.

The LCSO Patrol and Investigations Division have been diligently searching in the Inglis/Yankeetown for any evidence of Mr. Dunn since February 15^th. The location where his vehicle was found had been checked by deputies on Thursday February 27^th and Friday February 28^th. Sometime after deputies checked this location on the 27^th someone, possibly Mr. Dunn himself, parked the truck there and attempted to conceal it in the woods. 

No evidence of any foul play was discovered in or near his truck. The LCSO and the family of Mr. Dunn are asking for our public’s help to locate John “Dax” Dunn. Anyone who has information where he can be found is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 352-486-5111. The family has offered a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to Mr. Dunn. Anyone who wants to forward a tip but wishes to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477.  

Burglary Arrest

February 25, 2020

Fourteen time convicted felon Steven D. Rouse (7/27/80) of Morriston, Florida was arrested by members of the LCSO Patrol and Criminal Investigations Division yesterday afternoon for burglary, grand theft of firearms and criminal mischief. Rouse was located by Detectives in an abandoned shed near the scene of a burglary that was just reported. 

Patrol Deputy Kellie Kimpel responded to a report of a suspicious person she identified as Rouse earlier in the day. A homeowner returned to his home on Ishie Avenue just before 2 PM and found a person sleeping on his porch. The homeowner confronted this man, who he did not know and said to him he had not stolen anything then walked away. The homeowner discovered his guns and other valuables had been removed from inside the trailer, but were left on the porch. It appeared this burglar pried open the front door to gain entry. The homeowner immediately called 911 and gave a description of the person he confronted on his property.

The description of the burglary suspect matched that of Rouse. Rouse was identified by the victim when shown his picture. A canvass of the area identified a second person who identified Rouse and stated he was just seen in the area. Rouse was found in an abandoned shed nearby by Detectives. Rouse was taken into custody and confessed to the burglary, telling Detectives his truck broke down in the area and he went to the victim’s trailer thinking it belonged to a friend. He told Detectives he was only trying to get something to drink but fell asleep because he had been awake for several days after consuming methamphetamines.

Rouse is being held at the Levy County Detention Bureau in lieu of a $101,000.00 bond.

Suspicious Death Investigation

February 13, 2020

On February 12, 2020 at 3:30 PM Deputies responded to 12070 NE 20 Street to a reported suspicious death. Deputies met with a witness whose speech was incoherent and unintelligible but were able to decipher a person was still inside the home and apparently dead. Deputies entered the home and in the process of searching for the deceased person, fell immediately ill after inhaling noxious fumes inside the house. They did locate the remains of a 52 year old male before having to exit the home. Deputies were treated and released on scene by LCDPS after it was determined the fumes were created by a combination of chemicals and fertilizer inside the home that were being used in a sophisticated indoor marijuana grow operation.

LCSO Drug Task Force and Criminal Investigations Detectives secured a search warrant for the home and discovered a high yield multiple room grow operation. The 8^th District Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting the LCSO to determine the cause of death. There is no indication the death of the 52 year old is due to a violent act. 

This is still an on-going investigation. No arrests have been made at this juncture of the investigation. Anyone who has information that could aid detectives is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 352-486-5111 and request Sergeant Mike Narayan or Detective Rob Bowers.