Woman sentenced to life in prison in Leesburg fentanyl death
TAVARES, Fla. — A Umatilla woman was sentenced to life in prison last week for selling fentanyl that killed a Leesburg man in June 2021. Eleven days after his death, the woman’s 2-year-old daughter also died from fentanyl toxicity. A Lake County jury found Jalynn Nichole Davis, 41, guilty Thursday of death caused by the unlawful distribution of fentanyl. She was sentenced the same day to life in state prison with credit for 1,892 days served, court records show. The case stemmed from the June 2, 2021, death of Wesley Brown. Brown bought $20 worth of what he believed was
Lake County Jail inmate accused of offering $5,000 to have witness killed
TAVARES, Fla. — A Clermont man jailed on an aggravated assault charge is accused of offering another inmate $5,000 to kill a witness in the case that led to his incarceration, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
State Attorney’s Office finds Lake County deputy’s fatal shooting of Timotheus Reed lawful
LEESBURG, Fla. — A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy acted lawfully when he fatally shot Timotheus Reed while responding to a reported stabbing in April, according to a review released by the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. The six-page review, dated Wednesday, concluded the deputy reasonably feared for his life when Reed allegedly ignored repeated commands, reached into his pocket and turned toward the deputy from approximately 10 feet away. The State Attorney’s Office closed the case without filing charges. Its review did not identify the deputy. The incident began at approximately 6:22 a.m. April 12 when a woman
3 Lake County Jail detention deputies arrested in alleged child care assistance fraud scheme
TAVARES, Fla. — Two Lake County detention deputies are accused of using forged pay records to obtain child care assistance, and a third is accused of helping them, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began Sept. 10 after a representative of the Early Learning Coalition of Lake County contacted LCSO about suspected fraud involving two detention deputies employed at the Lake County Jail, LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. The coalition provides financial assistance for child care through federal and state grant funding. Pay records submitted for the two deputies were flagged because of discrepancies involving their historical
Eustis police release few details about overnight shooting
EUSTIS, Fla. — Eustis police are investigating after a person arrived at AdventHealth Waterman with a single gunshot wound to the head early Wednesday morning. Officers responded to the hospital at approximately 12:50 a.m., Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake. The victim was in stable condition Wednesday afternoon, Capri said. Inside Lake contacted Capri Wednesday morning after receiving multiple calls about police activity on Blackberry Court and reports that AdventHealth Waterman had been placed on lockdown following the victim’s arrival. Tavares Police Department later confirmed the lockdown. Capri initially declined to release any information, citing an active investigation.
Clermont man fatally struck while crossing County Road 455
CLERMONT, Fla. — A 37-year-old Clermont man was killed Monday morning when he was struck by a car while walking in a marked crosswalk, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The man was walking east across County Road 455 just north of Great Lawn Way in unincorporated Clermont at 6:10 a.m. when 2019 Acura TLX traveling southbound struck him, FHP said. The driver, a 19-year-old Davenport woman, did not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk before the collision, according to FHP. She was not injured. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
News Briefs
Lady Lake library to host cybersecurity Q&A Oct. 15
LADY LAKE, Fla. — Residents can get answers to their online safety questions during a free cybersecurity program at the Lady Lake Library next month. “Cybersecurity Unlocked: Ask Our Expert Anything” is scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at the library, 225 W. Guava St. Howard Davis, the Town of Lady Lake’s cybersecurity expert, will answer questions about online scams, suspicious emails and text messages, password security, smartphones, social media, online banking and shopping, and safe internet browsing. The event is part of the town’s cybersecurity awareness series and coincides with Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The program is open to all
25 years later, Lake County to honor lives lost in Sept. 11 attacks
TAVARES, Fla. — Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Lake County will hold a remembrance ceremony Friday morning to honor the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in the rotunda of the Lake County Administration Building, 315 W. Main St. in Tavares. Mount Dora High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets will perform a Table of Honor, a solemn tribute to those who are no longer with us. Lake County Teen Court participants will also take part in the observance by reading the names of victims of the Sept.
Mount Dora High to recognize partners behind $6 million stadium renovation
MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Community partners who helped make a $6 million renovation of Mount Dora High School’s football stadium possible will be recognized Friday during the Hurricanes’ game against rival Eustis High School. The newly renovated W.T. Bland Jr. Stadium at Mount Dora Community Trust Field, 700 N. Highland St., was officially unveiled during a ribbon-cutting last week attended by school district leaders and community partners. “This renovation was a massive undertaking, and honestly, it wouldn’t have happened without the hard work of so many people,” Mount Dora High School Principal Kyle Bracewell said. Those who contributed to the
FWC invites anglers to reel in recognition with Big Catch program
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is encouraging anglers to put their freshwater catches to the test through its Big Catch recognition program. The family-friendly program recognizes anglers who catch qualifying fish from more than 30 freshwater species found throughout Florida. Fish must meet or exceed qualifying length or weight requirements. To participate, anglers must catch a qualifying fish using an active hook-and-line method, take a photo and submit the catch through the Big Catch program. Participants receive recognition and a printable certificate. Youth anglers under 16 have separate, easier qualifying sizes, allowing younger fishermen
Lake County Fire Rescue to celebrate opening of new Station 71
LEESBURG, Fla. — Lake County Fire Rescue will celebrate the opening of its new Fire Station 71 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Sept. 2. The event is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. at the new station, 33661 County Road 473 in Leesburg. Members of the public are invited to tour the station, meet Lake County Fire Rescue firefighters and first responders, and view fire apparatus and emergency equipment. “Events like this allow our community to see firsthand the people, equipment, and facilities that stand ready to serve them when they need us most,” Lake County Public Safety
2 Lake County intersections transitioning to all-way stops
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Two Lake County intersections will permanently transition to all-way stops beginning Thursday, Aug. 20, as part of recommended safety improvements. The intersections are Radio Road and Treadway School Road in Leesburg and East Crooked Lake Drive and Country Club Road in Eustis. Message boards are already in place to alert motorists of the upcoming changes. Drivers are encouraged to use caution and be prepared for the new traffic patterns beginning Thursday.
Around The County
Woman sentenced to life in prison in Leesburg fentanyl death
TAVARES, Fla. — A Umatilla woman was sentenced to life in prison last week for selling fentanyl that killed a Leesburg man in June 2021. Eleven days after his death, the woman’s 2-year-old daughter also died from fentanyl toxicity. A Lake County jury found Jalynn Nichole Davis, 41, guilty Thursday of death caused by the unlawful distribution of fentanyl. She was sentenced the same day to life in state prison with credit for 1,892 days served, court records show. The case stemmed from the June 2, 2021, death of Wesley Brown. Brown bought $20 worth of what he believed was
Lake County Jail inmate accused of offering $5,000 to have witness killed
TAVARES, Fla. — A Clermont man jailed on an aggravated assault charge is accused of offering another inmate $5,000 to kill a witness in the case that led to his incarceration, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
State Attorney’s Office finds Lake County deputy’s fatal shooting of Timotheus Reed lawful
LEESBURG, Fla. — A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy acted lawfully when he fatally shot Timotheus Reed while responding to a reported stabbing in April, according to a review released by the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. The six-page review, dated Wednesday, concluded the deputy reasonably feared for his life when Reed allegedly ignored repeated commands, reached into his pocket and turned toward the deputy from approximately 10 feet away. The State Attorney’s Office closed the case without filing charges. Its review did not identify the deputy. The incident began at approximately 6:22 a.m. April 12 when a woman
Woman sentenced to life in prison in Leesburg fentanyl death
TAVARES, Fla. — A Umatilla woman was sentenced to life in prison last week for selling fentanyl that killed a Leesburg man in June 2021. Eleven days after his death, the woman’s 2-year-old daughter also died from fentanyl toxicity. A Lake County jury found Jalynn Nichole Davis, 41, guilty Thursday of death caused by the unlawful distribution of fentanyl. She was sentenced the same day to life in state prison with credit for 1,892 days served, court records show. The case stemmed from the June 2, 2021, death of Wesley Brown. Brown bought $20 worth of what he believed was
Lake County Jail inmate accused of offering $5,000 to have witness killed
TAVARES, Fla. — A Clermont man jailed on an aggravated assault charge is accused of offering another inmate $5,000 to kill a witness in the case that led to his incarceration, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
State Attorney’s Office finds Lake County deputy’s fatal shooting of Timotheus Reed lawful
LEESBURG, Fla. — A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy acted lawfully when he fatally shot Timotheus Reed while responding to a reported stabbing in April, according to a review released by the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. The six-page review, dated Wednesday, concluded the deputy reasonably feared for his life when Reed allegedly ignored repeated commands, reached into his pocket and turned toward the deputy from approximately 10 feet away. The State Attorney’s Office closed the case without filing charges. Its review did not identify the deputy. The incident began at approximately 6:22 a.m. April 12 when a woman
3 Lake County Jail detention deputies arrested in alleged child care assistance fraud scheme
TAVARES, Fla. — Two Lake County detention deputies are accused of using forged pay records to obtain child care assistance, and a third is accused of helping them, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began Sept. 10 after a representative of the Early Learning Coalition of Lake County contacted LCSO about suspected fraud involving two detention deputies employed at the Lake County Jail, LCSO Sgt. Jim Vachon said. The coalition provides financial assistance for child care through federal and state grant funding. Pay records submitted for the two deputies were flagged because of discrepancies involving their historical
Eustis police release few details about overnight shooting
EUSTIS, Fla. — Eustis police are investigating after a person arrived at AdventHealth Waterman with a single gunshot wound to the head early Wednesday morning. Officers responded to the hospital at approximately 12:50 a.m., Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri told Inside Lake. The victim was in stable condition Wednesday afternoon, Capri said. Inside Lake contacted Capri Wednesday morning after receiving multiple calls about police activity on Blackberry Court and reports that AdventHealth Waterman had been placed on lockdown following the victim’s arrival. Tavares Police Department later confirmed the lockdown. Capri initially declined to release any information, citing an active investigation.
Clermont man fatally struck while crossing County Road 455
CLERMONT, Fla. — A 37-year-old Clermont man was killed Monday morning when he was struck by a car while walking in a marked crosswalk, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The man was walking east across County Road 455 just north of Great Lawn Way in unincorporated Clermont at 6:10 a.m. when 2019 Acura TLX traveling southbound struck him, FHP said. The driver, a 19-year-old Davenport woman, did not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk before the collision, according to FHP. She was not injured. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.