Month: November 2020

Inverness daycare worker charged with child abuse

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said today that a 43-year-old daycare worker has been arrested and charged with child abuse.

Arrested on Nov. 18 was Amber Summers of Inverness, who is alleged to have been physically aggressive toward an autistic and non-verbal child on Nov. 16.

The CCSO was contacted on Nov. 16 and was told that the abuse had happened at a local daycare that provides services for children with special needs

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Dunnellon man charged with discharging firearm from vehicle, aggravated assault

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said today that 19-year-old Othello Cleveland of Dunnellon was arrested for Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly weapon

On Sunday, the CCSO was dispatched to a business in the City of Inverness in reference to a possible shooting.

Upon arrival, deputies were told that during a verbal argument, Cleveland had allegedly displayed several firearms, and had allegedly forced a subject into his vehicle.

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Pet food donations aid pets of county’s seniors

The cat’s name is “Thumbs,” who made a decision to no longer be feral (true story). (Photo: Robby Douglas)

Each month, the Citrus County PetMeals Program provides food to the companion pets of senior homebound clients who receive Meals on Wheels.

We are in great need of unopened bags of cat and dog food at this time.

The PetMeals program began when a very thin man receiving Meals on Wheels was only taking small bites of his food and then placing his food tray on the floor for a very overweight Chihuahua to finish the meal.  When asked why he was doing this, he stated he did not have the money to buy dog food any longer and that he would rather go hungry than not feed his beloved pet.

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Crystal River man sentenced to life in underage molestation trial

Mark Daniel of Crystal River (CCSO mug shot)

A Crystal River man was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday in the case of the 2019 Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a Child under the Age of 12.

During the initial investigation into the claims against  Mark Daniel, 44, the victim disclosed to a parent that Daniel had made the victim touch him in a sexual manner.

Former Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Detective Bruce Arnold, now a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, was assigned to the case.  After a thorough investigation, which included a forensic victim interview with the Child Protection Team, Arnold developed probable cause for Daniel’s arrest.

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Oct. 28 shooting incident solved with 18-year-old’s arrest

A Floral City youth was arrested on Thursday on charges stemming from an Oct. 28 shooting in Floral City.

After investigation of the shooting incident, Citrus County deputies arrested Vincent Irvin, 18.

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) said that Sumter County deputies responded to a residence where an adult victim told officials he had been shot in Floral City several hours prior to returning to Sumter County.

The victim had an apparent gunshot wound to his arm and holes consistent with gunfire on his vehicle. A second victim who was in the vehicle at the time of the incident was nearly struck by the same round but fortunately was not injured.

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Man sentenced to 920 years on sex charges

Charles Dipilla of Crystal River (CCSO mujshot)

A 41-year-old Crystal River man was sentenced on Thursday to 920 years in prison on multiple sexual-related charges

Charles Dipilla of Crystal River was arrested in 2019 by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) after a juvenile victim disclosed they had been sexually assaulted.

Detective Jonathan Richey with the CCSO Special Victim’s Unit (SVU), was assigned to investigate the allegations which were reported to the CCSO in early October. During Detective Richey’s investigation, he was able to obtain enough evidence to arrest Dipilla the same day.

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