Sex Offender Fails to Register, Later Flees from Deputies

December 5, 2023

Jason M. Key ((5/23/78) was convicted of crimes in Wisconsin in 2018 which designated him a sexual offender. Key has familial connections to the Bronson area of Levy County and in 2019 moved here. Key complied with all State of Florida Sex Offender registration requirements until he moved back to Wisconsin in 2021.

Deputies responded to a verbal altercation on 11/9/23 and learned that Key had returned to Levy County on October 28, 2023 and was living in a motor home. A check of his registration status revealed he failed to report his return to Levy County to the Sheriff’ Office as required and he continued to report to authorities in Wisconsin he was in their state. As a result of this intentional deception, Key was arrested on 10/30/23 for failure to comply with offender registration requirements. He was later released on bond with an order to complete his registration here in Florida. He later violated this court order.

On 12/1/23 sex offender compliance detectives located Key driving an RV on US Alt. 27 and attempted to stop him. Key accelerated away from detectives and attempted to elude them. His attempts were not successful so he ultimately stopped and surrendered.

A search of the RV was conducted after Key was taken into custody. Drug paraphernalia and crack cocaine were located inside the RV that Key told detectives belonged to him. Key was arrested for failure to register as a sex offender, fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia. He is currently being held in the Levy County Detention Center on a 55,000.00 bond.