Press Releases

March 17, 2025

Levy County Sheriff’s Detectives along with members from the United States Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force apprehended Charles A. Parris (6/27/71), a fugitive from North Carolina, in Williston late Friday afternoon. Parris was wanted by North Carolina for a string of bomb threats targeting Lowes and Walmart. Additional warrants had also been issued for Parris for possession of obscene materials stemming from a different investigation in North Carolina.

Parris was transported to the Levy County Detention Center where he is being held with no bond pending his extradition to North Carolina.

March 12, 2025

On March 11^th our School Resource Deputy (not named) was made aware a student was caught using their cell phone during school. The phone was taken from the student and school staff members discovered the student was using SnapChat to communicate with another person. The content of the conversation was sexually charged. The School Resource Deputy reviewed the SnapChat messages and saw where the other party identified themselves as a 46 year old man.

Our School Resource Deputy contacted Corporal Mike McNeil with the Criminal Investigations Division and asked him to investigate this incident further. Corporal McNeil used multiple investigative techniques to identify the owner of the SnapChat profile. This profile owner was found to be in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections as a sentenced inmate (15 year sentence) and therefore excluded as a viable suspect.

The investigation gained momentum when Corporal McNeil was able to identify the location of the device sending these chat messages was in Chiefland. Detectives converged on this location and found Todd Joseph “TJ” Thompson (7/17/78) inside of a derelict truck parked at the back of a property in the Manatee Farms subdivision. Thompson did not immediately exit the vehicle when ordered and began making suspicious movements. Detectives feared he was destroying evidence and quickly removed him from the vehicle.

Thompson was convicted of 1^st Degree Sexual Assault in Arkansas in 2004 and designated as a sexual offender. He moved to Florida and registered as a sex offender with the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office as required by Florida law. In 2024 Thompson failed to register and fled Gilchrist County. A warrant for his arrest was issued shortly after he absconded. Thompson has been evading capture since the warrant was issued.

Detectives learned Thompson used an internet name belonging to someone else to conceal his online identity. He purchased a cell phone from an unidentified person on the street. This phone allowed Thompson unfettered access to the internet and access to this incarcerated individuals social media profiles, including SnapChat. He used this phone and SnapChat profile to begin chatting with the student.

The investigation is still on-going and detectives believe other victims may be discovered. We are asking anyone who has information on Thompson and his on-line activity to contact Corporal Mike McNeil at 352-486-5111 ext. 240.

Thompson was arrested and has been booked into the Levy County Detention Facility. He has been charged with the following crimes. His bond has been set at $1.3 million dollars on these newest charges. The bond assigned to the warrant for absconding from Gilchrist County is set at $300,000.00.

F.S.S. 847.0135 (3a) – Obscene Communication Use of a Electronic Device to Seduce or Solicit a Child
F.S.S. 847.0138 (2) – Transmission of Harmful Material to a Child
F.S.S. 934.215 – Use of a Two Way Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony
F.S.S. 893.13 (6a) – Possession of a Controlled Substance 
F.S.S. 943.0435 (9a) – Sex Offender Fail to Comply with Registration
F.S.S. 943.0435 (4e1 – Sex Offender Fail to Register Internet Identifier (SnapChat) 
F.S.S. 943.0435 (4)(E)2 – Sex Offender Fail to Register Phone Number Change

“We are all too familiar with sexual predators and how they exploit the internet to find new victims. This is a classic example of how quickly our children can become the victim of a heinous crime at the hands of a sexual predator. Thompson thought he was hiding his identity by using a phone belonging to a state inmate. Thankfully the quick thinking of our Levy County school officials and my School Resource Deputy we were able to protect this child. Words cannot explain how proud I am of all involved in this case, most especially our Detectives, who worked feverously to locate and apprehend this dangerous criminal and put him exactly where he belongs, in jail,” said Sheriff McCallum.  

February 27, 2025

On February 26^th, 2025 LCSO deputies were dispatched to a disturbance on SE 195^th Place in Inglis after neighbors reported hearing a female cry out for help. Deputy Patrick Lockett and Deputy Dakota Dowling arrived and found a female victim clothed only in a blanket in distress. The female victim told deputies that she had been physically attacked and sexually battered by Whyitt Wood (12/3/02). Deputies located and detained Wood pending further investigation. The female was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

LCSO Criminal Investigations Division was requested to assist in the investigation. Detectives Shelby Kilian and Joe Barrera, along with Victim Advocate Donna Sanderson and Crime Scene Detective Jennifer Langston responded to the scene. Following a lengthy investigation and interviews, probable cause was established to charge Wood with forcible sexual battery, kidnapping-false imprisonment, and domestic battery by strangulation. Wood was arrested and transported to the Levy County Detention Center where he is being held with NO Bond.   

A local business woman and Bronson resident, Janet Lee Dean (2/22/61), was involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident in Levy County in 2024 that resulted in the death of another citizen. A Levy County warrant drafted by the Florida Highway Patrol was issued for arrest based on her role in the accident. Dean, who was in the hospital at the time the warrant was issued, fled before the warrant was executed. She was located some months later and arrested by law enforcement officials in Tampa, Florida. She was charged with Vehicular Homicide and DUI with Property Damage/Personal Injury.

Dean was released from custody after posting bond on this first arrest. A second warrant was issued for failure to appear after she intentionally refused to appear for her appointed court date. LCSO detectives received information Dean once again fled the jurisdiction in an attempt to avoid prosecution.

LCSO detectives are part of the United States Marshals Service fugitive task force and joined with other agencies in attempts to locate Dean. The LCSO, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office (Georgia) and the Florida Highway Patrol received information on Deans’ whereabouts. The collective efforts of these agencies located Dean and arrested her on February 25, 2025 in Lowndes County Georgia.

Dean will be returned to the Levy County Detention Center where she will be held without bond until her first appearance before a Levy County judge.

Sheriff McCallum is dedicated to maintaining the safety of traveling motorists in Levy County and frequently works with the Florida Highway Patrol to make our streets are safer. Driving under the influence is a major contributor to accidents involving the loss of life and will not be tolerated. Sheriff McCallum’s hope is that the apprehension of Janet Dean, and her return to Levy County to face justice will allow the family of the victim some comfort knowing that senseless death has not been forgotten.  

February 24, 2025

“See something, say something” is not just a catch phrase, it means what is says and worked to secure the safety of students on the Williston Middle/High School Campus. On Thursday afternoon a witness student reported to school staff that student Jesus E. Ramirez (14) was carrying a knife on campus. School administrators and School Resource Deputy (SRD) Nelson Macias located Ramirez and escorted him to the office. It was discovered that Ramirez had a knife tucked into his sock.

SRD Macias conducted an investigation and discovered Ramirez recently transferred to Williston from Texas. In less than one month of enrollment he had a disagreement with another student. Witness statements indicate Ramirez planned to use the knife during a pre-planned altercation with this student later that day. Witnesses also said Ramirez claimed to be part of gang.

Jesus Ramirez was arrested for possession of a weapon on school campus, a felony. He was booked into the Levy County Detention Center, process and released to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

February 18, 2025

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office is an active participant in the North Florida ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force. On Friday, February 14, 2025 a lengthy investigation was concluded in a joint operation in conjunction with the Gainesville Police Department at a residence in Levy County with an Archer, Florida address. 

ICAC Detectives assigned to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division along with other ICAC Unit detectives arrested Julio Bernard Rodriguez (5/19/1991) for possession of child sexual abuse material. This arrest came about after an investigation was initiated upon receiving a Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The Cyber Tip, initially investigated by the Gainesville Police Department ICAC Unit, determined Rodriguez was storing child sexual abuse material on an electronic device. Detectives with the Gainesville Police Department discovered Rodriguez resided in Levy County. The Gainesville Police Department forwarded their investigation to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division where an investigation was immediately opened. Based on this investigation Detectives obtained a search warrant for Rodriguez and his residence. 

Detectives executed the search and found a computer and cellphone belonging to Rodriguez contained child sexual abuse material. Rodriguez was arrested for 10 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of unlawful use of two-way device. Rodriguez was transported to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Detention Bureau.

Rodriguez’s bond was set at $1.1 million dollars on Saturday, February 15, 2025.

ICAC investigations often start with cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Detectives gather information through subpoenas, search warrants and interviews. These investigations take weeks or months to gather sufficient evidence to bring a perpetrator to justice. The Levy County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to combating crimes against children and is steadfast in this mission.

January 4, 2025

This morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. a Williston Elementary School student reported seeing a person run by an outside window holding an object believed to be a gun. School officials immediately placed the school on lock-down and School Resource Deputies began searching the property. Additional LCSO deputies and Williston Police Officers arrived on scene to aid the SRO deputies in the search. A complete and thorough search of the entire campus was performed and no person who posed any threat to the campus was located. Information disseminated throughout the Williston area that this was an active shooter incident is INCORRECT.

Due to a potential threat on the campus of the Williston Elementary School, the Williston Middle/High School and the Joyce Bullock Elementary School were also placed on lock down.

The Levy County School Board and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office want to ensure every parent that the safety of our children while on our school campuses is top priority. The LCSO along with Williston Police Department responded to the campus in force. A full investigation and search of every building on the Williston Elementary School campus was completed quickly.

We understand parents immediately went to each campus to collect their child during the lock down. These parents were not allowed on campus adding more stress and confusion. For safety and security reasons students are not allowed to be removed from the campus during a lock-down.