Press Releases

July 11, 2025

We don’t stop just because an arrest is made. Investigations continue regardless of the incarceration status of the suspect. Detective Cody Weaver arrested sexual predator Jeffery Lashley (9/11/59) on July 1^st for sexual predator registration violations. Detective Weaver seized Lashley’s cell phone during that investigation. This investigation continued and Detective Weaver sought a search warrant for this phone, even though Lashley was in jail and being held in custody with a $200,000 bond.

Detective Weaver found evidence of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) video’s had been searched and downloaded to the phone by Lashley.  On July 10, 2025 after an extensive forensic review of the contents of Lashley’s phone was complete, 16 more charges for possession of CSAM were filed.

These new charges were reviewed by the Levy County Court Judge during first appearance this morning. He assigned an addition $800,000 dollar bond for these new charges bringing Lashley total bond to $1 million dollars.

July 10, 2025

Levy County Deputies responded to a shooting incident Tuesday evening shortly after 7:00 p.m. at a vacant property east of Bronson. Deputies arrived and located a male suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was immediately transported to a local emergency room for treatment of this life threatening injury.

The investigation determined two men, Justin Stevenson (12/31/90) of Bronson and the victim were involved in an argument over their failing business venture raising animals. The victim became aware an animal had been sold without consent which led to the verbal clash. The argument escalated and Stevenson pulled a handgun he had hidden in his pocket. One shot was fired striking the victim in the back as he fled for safety.

Stevenson told deputies he fired the shot to protect his pregnant fiancé whom he believed the victim was about to attack. However, this entire incident was being recorded, unbeknownst to Stevenson. The video evidence captured by the victim’s phone was recovered and used to debunk Stevenson’s statement of defense of another.

Stevenson has been arrested for one count of attempted second degree murder with a firearm and is being held in the Levy County Detention Center with no bond. 

7/3/25

Jeffery Earl Lashley (9/11/59) was adjudicated guilty in 2004 on multiple sexual offenses thus designating him as a sexual predator. Lashley failed to remain in compliance with FDLE sexual offender/predator registration requirements.

On 6/30/25, Deputy Patrick Lockett discovered Lashley had been staying at a property in the Rosewood area that is not documented as part of his registration requirements. Deputy Lockett relayed this information as well as Lashley’s day-to-day activities to detectives. This information proved to be invaluable.

On 7/1/25, Detective Cody Weaver continued the investigation. Through the course of the investigation, multiple sexual predator violations were discovered. Detective Weaver discovered search engine history of “pedophilia” and “little girls in bathing suits”, as well as photographs of unidentified pre-pubescent girls in bathing suits found during a search of Lashley’s phone.

On 7/1/25, Detective Weaver arrested Lashley and charged him with 4 sexual predator violations. Lashley’s bond is set at $200,000. The LCSO takes sexual offender/predator violations seriously, and continually perform compliance reviews on all registered sexual offenders/predators. The LCSO knows that recidivism amongst those convicted of these heinous crimes is extremely high and want to ensure our public that we will continue to investigate these violations and make arrests.

June 30, 2025 

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office has completed a month-long operation identifying non-compliant sex offenders and sexual predators residing in Levy County. The initiative resulted in seven arrests and three additional on-going active investigations which resulted in arrest warrants being issued.  This initiative reinforces our agency’s unwavering commitment to public safety and offender accountability.

This operation began with coordinated address verification checks of the 209 registered offenders in the county. These checks were performed by LCSO School Resource Deputies while our children enjoyed summer vacation. The checks were strategically planned and executed to ensure sex offenders and predators were in compliance with the Florida Statutes that govern registration and residency requirements. Any identified violation was immediately referred to the Criminal Investigations Division Sex Offender Compliance detectives for follow-up.

Detectives thoroughly investigated and ultimately identified and charged the following individuals found to be in violation of sex offender registration laws. 

• Reginald Symonette
• Percy Spinner
• Walter Aldridge
• Elijah Wood-Toher
• Lawrence McDonald
• James Foster
• Robert Slone

Offenses ranged from:

•      Failing to report when a registered residence became vacant
•      Not registering as required with the Sheriff’s Office
•      Failing to notify authorities after moving from a registered address
•      Not reporting internet identifiers such as email addresses or social media  accounts

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to ensuring the safety of our residents through proactive enforcement, community partnerships, and relentless investigation into those who fail to comply with sex offender registration laws.

To report a possible sex offender violation contact the Levy County Sheriff’s Office – Detective Cody Weaver (352) 486-5111 ext: 362.

In May 2024 Deputy Izabella Luzader responded to a theft report at the Bronson Pharmacy. A suspicious man intercepted and accepted a delivery of narcotics on behalf of the pharmacy. The man was identified as California native Victor Rivera (8/14/98), who had no association with the Bronson Pharmacy. Rivera left with over $3,800 worth of drugs prior to law enforcement arriving on scene.

Deputy Luzader previously identified Rivera after responding to a suspicious vehicle call prior to the theft report being filed. Because of her diligence during this call, Rivera may not have been identified in this case. Essentially, the theft would have remained unsolved.

Detective Ryan Sullivan assisted agents from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Detectives conducted follow up interviews, analyzed surveillance and accessed electronic data relevant to the case. The investigation led to a warrant being issued for Rivera’s arrest for grand theft of a controlled substance. A bond of $100,000 was assigned to the warrant. The United States Marshals Service (USMS) was asked to assist in locating and apprehending Rivera.

On 6/20/25, the Alma City Police Department in California assisted by the USMS located and arrested Rivera on this outstanding warrant. Rivera is expected to be extradited to the Levy County Detention Center in the near future. This investigation also discovered Rivera is suspected of similar crimes throughout other cities in the United States. The United States Department of Homeland Security is assisting Detective Ryan Sullivan in further these additional investigations.

Michael Randolph Jr. went missing from the Chiefland area sometime in 2004. No one ever reported him missing; he just simply wasn’t seen again. Michael Randolph Jr. was known to law enforcement having been arrested multiple times on drug related charges. Rumors he was murdered circulated for years amongst the illegal drug community. Most said Solomon “John” Hall killed him. No proof he was murdered was ever offered nor was a missing person’s report ever filed.

FAST FORWARD TO JULY 2017.

Detectives working an unrelated drug case stumbled onto evidence giving some validity to the rumors that Michael Randolph Jr. was murdered. A full scale investigation was launched zeroing in on the date he disappeared. Michael Randolph Jr. did not have a formal full time job and counted on a State disability check to survive. The investigation determined he stopped collecting his disability payments in May of 2004. No activity was documented on his bank account and no person interviewed could recall seeing him in many years. Most thought he moved out of the area.

Detectives received information that Hall was not only responsible for his death but also responsible for disposing of his remains. LCSO Detectives coordinated efforts with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to aid in this very cold murder investigation. Detectives, acting on tips secured search warrants and began digging in various locations south of Chiefland looking for Randolph. Unfortunately, all of the efforts to find his remains were fruitless.

The case continued. In December of 2019 sufficient evidence had been collected to seek an indictment by a Grand Jury on Solomon Hall for the murder of Michael Randolph Jr. The case was presented and the Grand Jury who returned a TRUE BILL. Hall, already serving a sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) for unrelated drug convictions, was arrested for the murder.

The case was resolved in the 8^th Judicial Circuit in May of 2025. Hall accepted a plea offer for an additional 15 years in DOC, officially making him a convicted murderer. Hall never disclosed where Michael Randolph Jr’s remains can be found. This portion of the case remains open as Michael’s family who want to provide him with a proper burial. Anyone with information of where his remains can be found is asked to contact Detective Joe Barrera at 352-486-5111.

June 2, 2025

The safety and security of children who are victimized by adults holds an unparalleled importance to the law enforcement professionals of Levy County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives must utilize extreme patience, tact, and determination when investigating these heinous crimes.

Just as one trial concludes, Detectives Cody Weaver and Shelby Kilian responded to another complaint of child sexual abuse.  The complaint alleged Chiane Carter (10/31/2000) of Williston sexually abused a child under 12. The investigation discovered evidence of this crime and after many hours of exhaustive work, Detectives Weaver and Kilian arrested Carter. She has been charged her with two counts of child sexual battery and lewd and lascivious battery. She is held without bond in the Levy County Detention Center.

The next step of this process is the presentation of the case to the Grand Jury of Levy County. Prosecutors with the 8^th Judicial Circuit will lay the foundation of the case in its entirety seeking indictment. The work is not complete once the Grand Jury returns with a True Bill, as many efforts will have to be made to prepare the case for trial. LCSO detectives are no strangers to trial preparation and will give every effort to see this case through.  

June 2, 2025

The Detectives assigned to the LCSO Criminal Investigation Division dedicate long hours to investigations of child sexual abuse. They will tirelessly pursue, arrest and assist the State Attorney’s Office to ensure a successful prosecution of those who choose to prey on children. Individuals who commit these crimes face capital felony sentences which could mean life in prison.

This past week saw the dedication of these detectives come to fruition. In September 2024, Detective Blake Landfair arrested and charged Clifton Spivey (1/23/1982) of Cedar Key with sexual battery of a child under 12. Spivey has been in custody since his arrest. A Grand Jury indicted Spivey in February 2025, paving a way for justice to be served. Prosecutors with the 8^th Circuit State Attorney’s Office presented the evidence against Spivey at trial and the jury returned a guilty verdict. Spivey was sentenced to LIFE in the Florida Department of Corrections on May 29, 2025.

Sheriff McCallum along with the entire LCSO team is grateful to those who served on the jury and their verdict. We hope and pray this will aid the victim and their family in finding peace.

May 7, 2025

Levy County Sheriff’s Detectives in cooperation with the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force located and apprehended wanted fugitive, Kashone D. Bing (11/07/2004) of Gainesville early Monday morning. Bing was wanted by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and had two active warrants for violation of probation. Bing was initially placed on probation for aggravated battery, resisting an officer without violence, and criminal mischief more than $1000 dollars. Bing, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm at the time he was apprehended. Additional charges were filed for felon in possession of a firearm.

Bing was transported to the Levy County Detention Center where he is being held with no bond on his active warrants and $50,000 bond on the new felony criminal violations.