Press Releases

Faithful Partner • Loyal Protector • Heroic Heart

End of Watch: 8/5/2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Canine Deputy Molly. She was a dedicated drug detection dog and beloved partner to Detective Gary Garboski.  They served side by side for over seven years.

Molly began her service with the Levy County Sheriff’s Office in 2017. A highly trained and fiercely intelligent working dog, she joined the force and quickly became an invaluable member of the department. Throughout her career, she assisted in countless investigations, helping to remove dangerous substances from our streets and ensuring the safety of our community. Her work led to numerous arrests, the seizure of illegal narcotics, and—most importantly—the saving of lives. Molly and Detective Garboski were assigned to the Patrol Division where they quickly proved themselves to be an effective and dedicated team.

Molly and Detective Garboski transferred to the Drug Task Force Unit in 2019 where they continued impactful work in the fight against illegal narcotics. Molly loved her job and lived for the reward of chasing her toy. Off duty, she was a beloved member of Detective Garboski’s family and spent her time surrounded by love and companionship.

Molly was more than just a working dog—she was a loyal partner, a valued teammate, and truly the best dog ever. Molly passed peacefully with her partner and family by her side, honored until the very end. Her presence will be deeply missed by Detective Garboski, his family and everyone at the Levy County Sheriff’s Office.

Rest easy, K-9 Molly. Your watch is over. We have the watch now. You served with honor and heart.

On 7/15/25 Corporal Stephen Williamson responded to a call for service regarding a sexual offense against a juvenile. Corporal Williamson identified the suspect as James Alan Hutchins (DOB 5/8/1983) of Cedar Key, a registered sexual offender in the State of Florida. The case was transferred to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division for further investigation.

On 7/16/25 Detectives Shelby Kilian and Ryan Sullivan were assigned to continue the investigation. They conducted numerous interviews and determined probable cause existed for Hutchins’ arrest.

On 7/25/25 Detective Shelby Kilian arrested Hutchins. He was charged with 3 sexual offenses. These include Lewd/Lascivious Behavior Victim 12 to 16, Lewd/Lascivious Behavior Victim 12yoa Or Older Younger Than 16 yoa and the Offender is 18 yoa Or Older, Sexual Battery Victim 16 or 17 yoa. Hutchins is being held in the Levy County Detention Center with no bond.

Due to the nature of this case, there is a possibility that more victims exist. The Levy County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information relevant to this case or has knowledge of other potential victims, to contact Detective Shelby Kilian at (352)486-5111 ext. 277.

July 29, 2025

Deputy Burt Miller was on patrol in Williston when he saw someone speeding. He was able to pace the vehicle on SR 121 and although the driver was slowing, verified the speed was 72 in a posted 60.

The driver took an extended time to pull over. This behavior is not unusual but will make a deputy more suspicious. These suspicions were immediately verified when Deputy Miller contacted the driver. He was first overwhelmed by the smell of burned marijuana. Secondly Deputy Miller noticed the suspicious behavior of the driver, Devin Donald (9/27/94) of Williston. Donald constantly hid his hands and failed to produce identification when requested. Deputy Miller eventually obtained his identification and determined Donald was driving while his license was suspended and noted Donald also has 12 previous suspensions since 2019.

Donald was arrested and during the search of the vehicle before it was to be towed, Deputy Miller located a 9 MM handgun with a fully loaded extended magazine and an empty pill bottle that contained crack cocaine. Donald was charged with possession of crack cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, driving while license suspended or revoked and tampering with evidence. Apparently Donald was trying to get rid of his crack before being stopped and that’s what took him so long to pull over.

Donald was booked into the Levy County Detention Center and posted a $55,000.00 bond.

On July 19, 2025 Deputy Patrick Lockett was conducting traffic enforcement when he observed a vehicle being operated by Dylan Crews. Deputy Lockett was familiar with Crews and knew he did not possess a valid Florida license. Crews and his passenger switched seats when Deputy Lockett activated his emergency lights to make the stop. This was observed by Deputy Lockett and Crews later admitted he switched seats with his passenger.

Deputy Lockett was told that both methamphetamine and marijuana were in the vehicle. A Chiefland Police Department K-9 unit responded to assist in the search of the vehicle. The K-9 alerted his handler to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

Deputy Lockett conducted a search of the motor vehicle and located 2.9 grams of marijuana and 6.9 grams of methamphetamine. The search also revealed a loaded 9 millimeter pistol in the driver’s side door compartment. Crews is a convicted felon and admitted to ownership of the firearm. He also told Deputy Lockett the gun had been in the glove box but he placed it in the door panel as he was being stopped.

Crews was arrested for two counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of firearm or ammo by a convicted felon, 1 count of a weapon offense being armed while in possession of a controlled substance, 1 count of possession of drug equipment and 1 count of driving while license suspended 3^rd subsequent offense. Crews was transported to the Levy County Detention Center where he is held on $330,000.00 dollar bond.

On July 19, 2025 Levy County Deputies responded to an address in Levy County in reference to a sexual battery. Deputies conducted an initial investigation and identified the perpetrator.

Detective Ryan Sullivan and Shelby Kilian assumed the investigation and conducted interviews, assisted by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocates. The suspect, Jerson Garcia (5/30/2007) was interviewed and subsequently arrested. Two counts of Sexual Battery were filed and Garcia is being held on NO BOND in the Levy County Detention Center.

This appears to be a singular incident and Detectives found no evidence additional victims may be identified. The offender and the victim were acquainted prior to this crime occurring. We understand this arrest notification is vague but Marsy’s Law prohibits law enforcement from disclosing information that could be used to identify the victim.

LCSO Detectives and School Resource Deputies conducted a compliance operation which targeted Levy County sexual offender/predators in June. These compliance checks discovered Charles Elias Hengsteler Jr. (1/29/78) vacated his primary residence in Dixie County in January of 2024 forwarding his new address to a location in Levy County. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement requires he report to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office within 48 hours and provide proof of his new address in Levy County. Hengsteler failed to report.  

On June 10, 2025 Detective Ryan Sullivan obtained an arrest warrant for Hengsteler for three sex offender violations. Detective Sullivan learned Hengsteler relocated to DeSoto County during his investigation. Hengsteler never notified Levy County Sheriff’s Office or the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office of his current address.  

On July 14, 2025 Detectives and Deputies with the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office located and arrested Hengsteler on the active Levy County warrant. Hengsteler has also charged in DeSoto County for multiple sex offender violations.

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office works cooperatively with other law enforcement agencies to track down and arrest absconded offenders. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office arrest of Hengsteler and removal of this dangerous individual from our communities is proof of our commitment to the protection of our citizens statewide.

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.