Man accused of sending obscene  photos, cartoons to children

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office accused a 34-year-old man of causing “physical and emotional abuse” by sending “harmful” “sexualized and nude photos of women and cartoon photos” to children.

Michael Don Weedon, of Green Cove Springs, was charged with three counts each of transmitting harmful information to minors and contributing to the delinquency of minors and using his cellphone to facilitate a felony on Friday, May 30, after investigators reviewed screenshots of messages from messages reportedly sent by Weedon.

According to the affidavit for arrest report, CCSO subpoenaed records from Weedon’s cellphone company, and they confirmed that his number was used to send the messages and the photos to the children.

His bond was set at $350,018. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 7.

Woman returned from Lakeland  to face grand theft charge

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A traffic stop in Lakeland on April 28 led to the arrest of a 49-year-old woman wanted in Clay County for taking $2,500, a set of keys and a cellphone from her 82-year-old father on Dec. 10, 2024.

Charlotte Ann Johns, of Lakeland, was returned to Clay County on Monday, June 2, to face charges of grand theft of a person 65 or older after CCSO deputies charged her with taking the items from her father’s home and refusing to return them.

According to the arrest affidavit, she refused to speak with investigators without an attorney while she was in the county. She moved to Polk County and declined to answer any questions. The affidavit also stated that she admitted to taking the money.

In April, a Lakeland Police Department officer saw Johns and another man in a car in front of a store, and he smelled burning marijuana. Johns saw the officer, and she left the parking lot without stopping at an intersection, which forced another car to “quickly brake to avoid a collision.” Johns was then immediately stopped.

A check confirmed she had a warrant from Clay County. She posted a $15,003 bond and is expected to return to court on June 24.

Second fake nurse extradited  from Michigan for caring for veteran

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A second person was returned from the Macomb County, Michigan, Jail on May 29 to face charges of impersonating another person and as an unlicensed nurse who provided care to a U.S. Marine veteran who needed “comprehensive in-home medical care.”

Alexiea Lynn Irwin, 30, Warren, Michigan, was charged with 14 counts of practicing without a license, fraud and impersonation with possession of an identification of another person without their consent after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office determined Irwin and her fiancé, Julien Williams, weren’t qualified to provide at-home care for U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Kensworth Moody, who was suffering from kidney disease.

Moody died on Oct. 13, but his death was not linked to Irwin or Williams; Moody’s family asked CCSO to investigate them because they were suspicious of their medical backgrounds. Detectives learned that Williams stole the identity and credentials of a UF Health nurse, Darez Whigham, according to the CCSO.

“Alexiea Irwin was hired at BrightStar Care; she took care of several different business functions, including patient care, coordination, scheduling and human resources,” Sheriff Michelle Cook said. “She eventually convinced the company to hire her fiancé, our second suspect, Julien Williams, as a home health aide. Julian Williams was not trained as a home health aide, nor was he trained as a nurse. He was not licensed as a nurse, but his fiancée, Alexiea Irwin, falsified records and documents to help him get the job. In fact, Irwin used her position and access at the company to falsify company records. He took a former licensed practicing nurse's identity and employment information and allowed her fiancé to pose as that former licensed employee.”

The family said neither appeared to know what they were doing, and they had to be directed on simple care.

According to BrightStar’s records, Williams was paid $4,856.25 when Irwin manipulated the payroll sheet and changed the employee number of Julien Williams to pay him as a nurse.

Williams was returned to Clay County from Michigan on April 17.

Bond for both was set at $400,048.

Irwin’s next court appearance will be on June 30.

FHP: Man killed when driver  runs stop sign at SR 100

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A 58-year-old man was killed early May 29 when a driver from Keystone Heights ran a stop sign at Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 100, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

According to the accident report, the victim was driving east on SR 100, approaching Sunrise, when a sedan driven by a 35-year-old man on Sunrise failed to stop and struck the victim’s SUV.

The 58-year-old driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the sedan and his three passengers were all transported to the hospital in serious condition, FHP reported. Nobody in the sedan was wearing their seatbelt, FHP said.

FHP doesn’t release the names of anyone involved in accidents.

Charges dropped against Marroletti  in Green Cove Springs

 GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Despite confessing, the State Attorney’s Office was forced to drop lewd and lascivious batter and molestation charges of a minor charges against a man because he was arrested on March 19 after the statute of limitations had expired three months earlier.

Anthony Joseph Marroletti Jr. was released from the Clay County Jail last month after Assistant State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit determined she couldn’t get a verdict.

Ashley Young Terry filed the following statement at the Clay County Courthouse:

“After reviewing the evidence in the above-styled case, the undersigned Assistant State Attorney declines to prosecute this defendant for these charges. Please strike upcoming court date.

“The proper authorities have been notified by copy of this notice to release the defendant from custody and/or to release the defendant’s bond, if any has been posted on these charges only.”

Green Cove Springs Police Chief Shawn Hines stated that his department believed it had acted appropriately. However, he said it was unclear about the changes in Florida laws that protect defendants from testimony from victims and witnesses when too much time has passed to ensure the reliability of the evidence.