Sheriff’s Office needs help finding man wanted for sexual assault

MIDDLEBURG – The Florida Sheriff’s Association Criminal Apprehension Assistance Program is offering a $5,000 reward for information that can lead to the arrest for a man wanted for sexually assaulting a woman in her home on March 13.
Sheriff Michelle Cook identified the man as being 5-foot-10 with a red beard and wearing a black hoodie and shorts and black slide-style sandals.
“At approximately 6 a.m. deputies responded to the area of Blanding and Blairmore (boulevards). The victim, who we’re not going to identify, reported that a white male adult with a red beard illegally entered her residence and sexually assaulted her.
“After the assault, the suspect fled on foot. We saturated the area that morning. We conducted an exhaustive and extensive search, including using our police K-9s, but unfortunately, we’re not able to locate the suspect.”
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office asks that if you recognize the man or have any information to contact them at (904) 264-6512 or leave a tip at SaferWatch.com.

Man jailed for firing gun at
his apartment complex
ORANGE PARK – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was called to an apartment complex after receiving a complaint of a shot fired in the parking lot and they stopped a man who was leaving the complex at 1:55 a.m. without his headlights on.
Filgence Wilson, 30, of Orange Park, eventually was charged with possessing an unlicensed firearm and shooting it in public on March 20.
After Wilson was stopped by deputies, they found two spent 9 mm casings by his car.

Man on lam caught, returned to jail to face litany of traffic charges

MIDDLEBURG – A man whose been on the lam for a month was caught and returned to the Clay County Jail after he was caught on March 18.
Nehemy Rene was supposed to stand trail for several DUI-related charges on Feb. 7, but he failed to appear in court. In addition to being charged with attempting to flee law enforcement without regard for safety of others, DUI, hit and run, driving without headlights, running a stop sign, failing to remain in a single lane and speeding, he now faces a charge of failure to appear.
In response, he was ordered to remain in jail without bond.
According to the original arrest report, Rene crashed a U-Haul van and fled the scene in a high-speed chase on March 31, 2021, in Middleburg.
According to the arrest report, a Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy clocked Rene at 72 mph shortly after midnight on Blanding Boulevard in a 45-mph zone. When the deputy gave chase, Rene ran a red light while turning left onto Coppergate Drive. After turning, Rene turned off the van’s lights, according to CCSO.
When Rene turned onto Iceni Court, he tried to make a U-turn in a yard and he struck the corner of a home. Rene continued to drive away, and he eventually struck an unoccupied Toyota.
After being detained, Rene failed the field sobriety test, according to the arrest report. He also refused to submit to a blood alcohol test at the scene.