Recent arrests in Bradford, Union and Clay

The following individuals were arrested recently by local law enforcement officers in Bradford, Union or Clay (Keystone Heights-area) counties. All defendants are considered innocent until convicted in a court or until pleading guilty or no contest. Information in this report is from law enforcement agencies and court documents, which are public records.

Bradford

Miranda Barnett, 26, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 15 for DUI.

Accused of forcing sex at knifepoint

David Brown, 30, of Jacksonville, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 19 for battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, kidnapping-false imprisonment, and obstructing justice.

According to an arrest report, on February 22, the 21-year-old victim told deputies she and the defendant, her live-in boyfriend, were in Duval County when the couple argued in the car, and she became fearful for her life.

The woman told deputies that Brown drove to a wooded area off County Road 225 between Lawtey and Kingsley Lake and forced her to climb over a fence, walk through the woods, and undress.

He then forced her to have sex at knifepoint. After the couple returned to the vehicle, the victim said Brown became angry after looking through her phone.  The two struggled over the device, and the victim called 911. The defendant then fled the scene.

A FLOCK camera spotted the defendant’s vehicle north of Lawtey.  However, deputies were unable to locate him.

The victim denied consent to a rape test kit but provided deputies with a written statement.

Accusations of cheating, struggle over phone

Ralph Byrd, 50, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 16 for battery and resisting an officer.

According to an arrest report, the defendant and victim argued over the defendant allegedly cheating on the victim.

The argument progressed to a struggle over a phone, with both parties falling to the ground and the defendant allegedly choking the woman. Byrd claimed the phone the woman was holding was his.  However, a deputy later found Byrd’s phone on the ground in front of his camper.

Byrd blamed the incident on the victim, adding that she had been previously Baker Acted and was “acting out.”

William Carter, 34, of Brooker, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 19 for probation violations.

Stephen Crews, 52, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 18 for battery and selling, manufacturing, or delivering a controlled substance.

Travis DeSue, 35, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 20 for an out-of-county warrant.

Report: woman got power of attorney, stopped caring for couple

Sarah Early, 46, of Keystone Heights, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 31 for abuse of an elderly or disabled adult.

According to an arrest report, after two elderly adults granted Early power of attorney, she abandoned her responsibilities of being their primary caretaker.

One male victim was confined to a wheelchair following a stroke, and had limited use of the left side of his body. He said he had not had a bath in two weeks and had been wearing a soiled adult diaper for a week and a half.

“(The victim) also stated that he was insulin-dependent, and Sarah had not been downstairs in at least two days to provide any prescribed medicine,” wrote deputy Michael Gillick in an arrest report.  “(The victim) was utilizing empty plastic bottles to urinate to prevent urinating on himself.”

Another female victim reported that Early intentionally left downstairs windows open overnight when the temperature dropped to 40 degrees. The victim added that the controls for the heater were upstairs and that, being confined to a bed and wheelchair, she had no way to reach the controls. She also said she was dependent on several prescription medications and was unable to take them due to the defendant’s lack of care.

Gillick confirmed that the downstairs windows were open and that upon his arrival, the temperature was 60 degrees. He added that the male victim’s bed, wheelchair, and person were covered in fecal matter.

According to Gillick, Early told him that she had been the couple’s sole caregiver, and they required care 24-7.

“Sarah stated that she stopped providing care for (the couple) about three days ago when paramedics told her that she wasn’t responsible for them,” wrote Gillick.  “Since that time, she had provided no medical or hygiene care for either party.”

Cracked windshield, suspended license, spat on deputy

Nyviera Green, 34, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 20 for resisting an officer, battery, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

According to an arrest report, a deputy pulled over the defendant because of a cracked windshield and discovered that the driver had a suspended license. After receiving a notice to appear for the misdemeanor, the defendant attempted to drive away after the deputy told her she could not continue to drive with a suspended license. According to the officer, Green refused commands to exit the vehicle and resisted the officer’s attempts to extract her. After two bystanders helped the deputy restrain Green, she kicked the patrol car’s divider and door and attempted to open the rear door.  She also spat on the deputy’s arm and leg.

Arrested after visit to Bass Pro Shop

Adam Henslee, 40, of Middleburg, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 17 for battery. According to an arrest report, the defendant and victim got into an argument while returning from Gainesville’s Bass Pro Shop over the defendant playing music loudly in the vehicle. The victim said Henslee was intoxicated and head-butted him during the argument at home. The two continued fighting in the backyard, with Henslee throwing the victim on the ground and the victim punching Henslee twice to get him off.  A female witness to the melee said she retreated to a bathroom while experiencing a panic attack, adding that she saw Henslee consume a Crown Royal after arriving at home and saw the defendant head-butt the victim and push him to the ground while holding onto his shirt.

Jamie McClellan, 40, of Hampton, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 19 for withholding support.

Kimberly Padgett, 45, of Starke, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 16 for trespassing. A patron of the Budget Inn Motel called deputies after the defendant caused a disturbance outside the patron’s room, according to an arrest report. A manager at the motel informed the responding officer that Padgett had been trespassed from the property, and the deputy confirmed the defendant had earlier received a trespass warning.

Kelli Perry, 43, of Hampton, was arrested by Bradford deputies on March 19 for trespassing. Deputy K. Mozingo wrote in an arrest report that after a family member in Hampton reported that the defendant was on her property after receiving a trespass warning, the officer confirmed that the warning was in effect until January 1, 2026. Perry was on the victim’s property when the deputy arrived.

Union

Cornelius Curtis, 45, of Lake Butler, was arrested by Union deputies on March 19 for an out-of-county warrant.

Jordan DiPaul, 29, of Middleburg, was arrested by Union deputies on March 22 for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

According to an arrest report, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on DiPaul because his vehicle tag lights did not eliminate the tag for a minimum of 50 feet. Dispatch confirmed that the defendant’s license had been suspended, and the officer discovered a white circular container under the driver’s seat, which tested positive for methamphetamine.

Brandon Dixon, 32, of Lake Butler, was arrested by Union deputies on March 18 for driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Eric Hanson, 43, of Howell, Michigan, was arrested by Union deputies on March 22 for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to an arrest report, a deputy stopped a vehicle in which the defendant was a passenger for failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.

During the stop, a deputy asked Hanson if he had any weapons or illegal substances in the vehicle, to which the defendant replied, yes, illegal narcotics. The officer later found methamphetamine and a glass pipe in the defendant’s pockets.

Erika Horton, 34, of Lake Butler, was arrested by Union deputies on March 22 for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, an out-of-county warrant, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to an arrest report, a deputy conducted a traffic stop in which the defendant was a passenger due to an expired tag.

The driver was arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license, and dispatch confirmed that Horton had an outstanding arrest warrant in Alachua County.

After both defendants were placed in the back of patrol cars, deputies searched their vehicle and located a small purple purse between the center console and the passenger seat. The handbag contained a glass pipe with residue which tested positive for methamphetamine.

Johnny Kimball, 48, of Lake Butler, was arrested by Union deputies on March 22 for driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Sergio Lluveras, 38, of Jacksonville, was arrested by Union deputies on March 18 for a probation violation.

Shannon Miley, 38, of Lake Butler, was arrested by Union deputies on March 19 for a probation violation.

Rachel Rosier, 29, of Lawtey, was arrested by Union deputies on March 20 for a probation violation.

Cole Seay, 26, of Bell, was arrested by Union deputies on March 18 for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and a probation violation.

According to an arrest report, during a traffic stop in which the defendant was a passenger, deputies asked Seay to exit the vehicle and saw him drop a small plastic bag by the rear driver-side tire.

The substance inside the bag tested positive for methamphetamine.

Jacob Williams, 22, of Maclenny, was arrested by Union deputies on March 21 for a probation violation.

Clay

Ciro Ruiz, 38, of Keystone Heights, was arrested by Clay deputies on March 18 for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.