BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office said it received a tip from neighboring Union County that resulted in four arrests and the seizure of 50 grams of methamphetamine. The target of the tip and subsequent search warrant: Justin Corley was arrested at a Crosby Lake-area residence for trafficking in methamphetamine … Read more
June 25 through July 1 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 … Read more
Statute was not enforced for 10 years BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— Sheriff’s in Bradford, Union and Clay counties said they will start enforcing the state’s new noise statute on July 1. A previous state law regulating noise emitting from vehicles was struck down by the Florida Supreme Court in 2012. The court said … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— An Alachua County jury convicted District 3 U.S. Congressional candidate Tom Wells of resisting an officer. Wells is attempting to unseat first-term incumbent Kat Cammack, who represents Bradford and Union counties in Washington. Wells was arrested on Jan. 30 at the University of Florida after handing out campaign literature … Read more
June 18 through June 24 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 … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A Bradford County jury found Kelsey Kelli Taylor, 34, of Glen St. Mary guilty of DUI during a June 20 trial. County Judge D. Tatum Davis sentenced the defendant to 10 days in weekend jail and one year of probation. The judge also suspended Taylor’s license for five years. … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A Keystone Heights man scheduled to go on trial in Starke for domestic battery instead pleaded to harassing a witness while the state dropped the original battery charge. James David Howard, 31, was arrested by Bradford deputies on Dec. 14, 2021, for domestic battery. According to an arrest report, … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor STARKE— A delivery driver who left a package at a Bradford County house, then returned later to burglarize the home, was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Circuit Judge James M. Colaw also sentenced Desmond Isaiah Bonnett, 22, of Jacksonville to two years’ drug offender probation after the defendant pleaded … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor RAIFORD— Federal prosecutors asked a judge to sentence a former Union Correctional Institution officer that participated in the Jan, 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot to three months in prison. Prosecutors said that because the defendant was a sworn law enforcement officer at the time of his offense, he should receive … Read more
BY DAN HILDEBRAN Monitor Editor RAIFORD— A Union Correctional Institution inmate who has escaped from Florida jails and prisons seven times was arrested for the attempted murder of a correctional officer last week. Mark DeFriest has attempted 13 escapes from Florida correctional facilities since he was first arrested in 1979 at the age of 19. … Read more
