Marilyn M. Aciego, Author at Inside Lake

Mount Dora Traffic Fatality: Wife And Children Open Up About Losing A Man Who Was “Just Amazing”

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — Seventeen years ago Adrick Rojas pushed his best friend’s sister down on a bed and kissed her. And there began a love story spanning nearly two decades that included the couple moving to Lake County and bringing four children into this world who are loved dearly. “Our first kiss! We were sitting in my brother’s room and my brother walked out for whatever reason. Adrick pushed me down on the bed and kissed me! Then [he] looked at me and yelled, ‘You kissed me!” “I didn’t kiss you! You kissed me!” […]

Mount Dora Traffic Fatality: Wife And Children Open Up About Losing A Man Who Was “Just Amazing” Read More »

Eustis, Features, Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By Marilyn M. Aciego / September 19, 2021

Mount Dora Man Arrested On DUI Manslaughter Charges, Regarding 2019 Christmas Eve Crash That Killed Eustis Family

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. LEESBURG, Florida — A drunk man who killed three members of the same family in a tragic Christmas Eve crash was more than double Florida’s legal limit, had amphetamines and benzos in his system and was driving nearly 50 mph over the posted speed limit, according to a crash report released by Leesburg Police Department Thursday. Zachery Maurice Waldo, 34, of Mount Dora is facing a slew of charges stemming from the night of the crash and he added two more charges after striking a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy’s car

Mount Dora Man Arrested On DUI Manslaughter Charges, Regarding 2019 Christmas Eve Crash That Killed Eustis Family Read More »

Leesburg, Mount Dora / By Marilyn M. Aciego / March 15, 2023

Man Ejected, Dies, In Mount Dora SUV Rollover — Witness Reports Failed Attempt To Pass Another Vehicle

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. MOUNT DORA, Florida — A single-vehicle crash that shut down a popular roadway for several hours Sunday night claimed the life of a 36-year-old man, according to Mount Dora Public Information Officer Lisa McDonald. Witnesses told Mount Dora Police Adrick Rojas, was driving southbound around 80 miles per hour, near 4150 Highway 19A in a 2001 black Ford Expedition around 6:45 p.m. Sunday when he attempted to pass another driver. He crossed over the double line, lost control and rolled the SUV three times, McDonald said in a press release.

Man Ejected, Dies, In Mount Dora SUV Rollover — Witness Reports Failed Attempt To Pass Another Vehicle Read More »

Inside Scoop, Mount Dora / By Marilyn M. Aciego / September 19, 2021

Victim tells Eustis Police his child’s mother took him on a wild ride on the hood of her car

The following story was first published on Lake Legal News July 30, 2020. EUSTIS, Florida — A woman who drove down the street with a man on the hood of her SUV was charged with aggravated domestic battery Saturday. Just before 6 p.m. Saturday, a Eustis Police officer met with the victim at the police department and he said his child’s mother, Ernesta Presy, dropped their child off at the last minute at his home on West Pendleton Avenue without notice. The victim confronted Presy and documented the conversation on his cell phone, according to an arrest affidavit. Presy allegedly

Victim tells Eustis Police his child’s mother took him on a wild ride on the hood of her car Read More »

Eustis / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 15, 2024

Saying Goodbye After 24 Years, Eustis Police Captain Shane McSheehy Leaves To Become Iowa Small-town Chief

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. For nearly 24 years, Eustis Police Capt. Shane McSheehy protected and served the residents of Eustis and on Tuesday, he said goodbye. Lake Legal News sat down with McSheehy Tuesday morning on his retirement day and spoke about his time at Eustis Police Department and his plans for the future. After a five-month search for a chief position, McSheehy is now the chief at Pella Police Department in Pella, Iowa. He is scheduled to start later this month. McSheehy had a good feeling about Pella from the start; he is

Saying Goodbye After 24 Years, Eustis Police Captain Shane McSheehy Leaves To Become Iowa Small-town Chief Read More »

Features / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 16, 2021

Foul-Mouthed “Pastor Pete” Arrested for Battery Upon a Deaf, Mentally Impaired Man

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. TAVARES, Florida — A local man known as “Pastor Pete” who runs a “quasi group home” in Tavares was arrested Thursday for allegedly battering one of his tenants and driving with a suspended license. Tavares Police Department responded to 1404 East Alfred Street Thursday afternoon after a man reported Pedro “Pastor Pete” Custodio, 50, battered him. The victim, who is deaf and has mental impairments, communicated to police he was lying on his bed and Custodio entered his bedroom, pulled him off the bed and hit him “all over,” according

Foul-Mouthed “Pastor Pete” Arrested for Battery Upon a Deaf, Mentally Impaired Man Read More »

Uncategorized / By Marilyn M. Aciego / August 5, 2022

Firefighter’s BAC Level Nearly Double Florida’s Limit — DUI Manslaughter Investigation Hindered When He Falsely Claimed COVID-19

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — The former firefighter accused of killing a young woman while driving drunk was nearly twice the legal limit and claimed he had COVID-19 after the crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Michael Geoffrey Downs, 30, turned himself in at the Lake County Jail Friday afternoon after apparently being tipped off there was a warrant for his arrest for killing 23-year old Catherine Eaglin on March 19. Downs is charged with DUI manslaughter, three counts of DUI with property damage and one count of false information on

Firefighter’s BAC Level Nearly Double Florida’s Limit — DUI Manslaughter Investigation Hindered When He Falsely Claimed COVID-19 Read More »

Eustis / By Marilyn M. Aciego / April 27, 2022

Former Firefighter For Eustis And Umatilla In And Out Of Jail In An Hour On DUI Manslaughter Charge

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — A former firefighter accused of DUI manslaughter was booked into the Lake County Jail Friday afternoon. Michael Geoffrey Downs, 30, is facing several charges in addition to the DUI manslaughter, including three counts of DUI with property damage and a count of false information on a crash report. He was booked into LCJ and released in less than an hour on $33,500 bond. Downs, who was an engineer medic at Eustis Fire Department, and former local paramedic of the year was terminated by the City of Eustis

Former Firefighter For Eustis And Umatilla In And Out Of Jail In An Hour On DUI Manslaughter Charge Read More »

Eustis / By Marilyn M. Aciego / April 27, 2022

Lake County Inmates Help With Dire “Around The Clock” Need For Covid-19 Masks

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. Inmates at the Lake County Jail are doing their part to help in the battle against the global pandemic COVID-19. Partnering with non-profit Lake Support and Emergency Recovery Inc. — better known as LASER — the Lake County Sheriff’s Office inmate sewing program is making face masks to provide to area healthcare workers, said LCSO Lt. John Herrell in a press release. With a nationwide shortage of face masks in the fight against COVID-19, “The initial goal for the inmates is to quickly produce 1,000 masks and then continue making

Lake County Inmates Help With Dire “Around The Clock” Need For Covid-19 Masks Read More »

Features / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 16, 2021

Facebook “Beer” Photo Vanishes As Local Firefighter Criminally Investigated For Traffic Fatality

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — A local firefighter, who is the deputy chief of the volunteer Umatilla Fire Department, an engineer medic at Eustis Fire Department, and former local paramedic of the year, is under criminal investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol for a three-vehicle crash that killed a 23-year-old woman March 19. Michael Downs, 30, who was off-duty from both fire departments, was traveling eastbound in a 2016 Dodge Ram on State Road 44 when he failed to stop and struck the back of a 2017 Nissan Sentra, “propelling” it into

Facebook “Beer” Photo Vanishes As Local Firefighter Criminally Investigated For Traffic Fatality Read More »

Eustis / By Marilyn M. Aciego / April 27, 2022

Man Accused of 2018 Double Attempted Murder Picked Up on Lake County Warrant

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. OCALA NATIONAL FOREST, Florida — An Ocala man is being held in the Lake County Jail on two counts of attempted murder and two counts of robbery with a firearm stemming from a 2018 drug deal gone bad. According to a probable cause affidavit, on Sept. 27, 2018, Dexavion J’Neil Brown, who was 18 years old at the time, set up a meeting with a man he met in the juvenile justice system in 2017, to trade methamphetamine for a gun and $300. The pair agreed to meet at the

Man Accused of 2018 Double Attempted Murder Picked Up on Lake County Warrant Read More »

Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego / September 15, 2023

Clermont van driver under investigation for crash near Mount Dora, Tavares motorcyclist dies

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on Lake Legal News on March 18, 2020. MOUNT DORA, Florida — A motorcyclist was killed Tuesday after a van ran a stop sign, near the Lake County and Orange County line, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Steven Winters, 38, of Tavares was riding a 2020 Harley Davidson motorcycle southbound on U.S. Highway 441 when a 2002 Ford van being driven by Daniel Meeks, 55, of Clermont ran a stop sign while attempting to make a left turn to travel westbound onto to Old U.S. Highway 441. The front of the motorcycle struck

Clermont van driver under investigation for crash near Mount Dora, Tavares motorcyclist dies Read More »

Clermont, Inside Scoop, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 16, 2025

Social Media Shows The Lighter Side Of Lake County Law Enforcement

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. Social media sometimes gets a bad rap, but it has opened doors for law enforcement they never imagined. While most law enforcement agencies in Lake County have a Facebook page, there is just something different about the Tavares Police Department and Eustis Police Department pages. Eustis Police Officer Lauren Brown has created an alter ego — Major Trooper — who comes with his very own set of policies. Brown has used the character to have fun with the community, both on Facebook and in person. Major Trooper has attended many

Social Media Shows The Lighter Side Of Lake County Law Enforcement Read More »

Features / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 16, 2021

DNA From A Cigar Tip Cracks Home Invasion Case Involving 97-Year-Old WWII Veteran Who Was Found Unconscious

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. OKAHUMPKA, Florida — The tip of a Black & Mild cigarillo left at the scene of a home invasion and robbery of a 97-year-old World War II veteran led to a suspect’s arrest Wednesday, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. In July 2019, the elderly victim went to a local convenience store to purchase some items, and when he arrived home, he was met at his back door by a suspect armed with a gun, later identified as Kevin Eugene Leeks Jr., 29, said LCSO Lt. John Herrell. Family

DNA From A Cigar Tip Cracks Home Invasion Case Involving 97-Year-Old WWII Veteran Who Was Found Unconscious Read More »

Leesburg, Unincorporated Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego / May 16, 2024

Eustis Cousin Charged With Providing the Gun in Myung Sung Store Area Shooting

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — The first cousin of a man already charged in the shooting of a 32-year-old woman in Eustis last month was arrested Wednesday for principal to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. According to a probable cause affidavit, the shooting on January 27 was the culmination of a series of arguments and confrontations between the shooter, Keson Donaldson, who was arrested the same day as the shooting, and the victim, Santana Potts. On Wednesday, Eustis Police arrested Donaldson’s cousin, Keenon Maurice Benn, 20, of Eustis for allegedly giving Donaldson

Eustis Cousin Charged With Providing the Gun in Myung Sung Store Area Shooting Read More »

Eustis / By Marilyn M. Aciego / August 30, 2022

Police Say Large Gash To Face Reveals Eustis Shooter’s Motive To Pull Trigger On Woman

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — Eustis Police Department has made an arrest in the shooting of a woman Monday afternoon. According to an arrest report, EPD received a 9-1-1 call Monday stating a female had been shot and was in the area of Orange Avenue. As the call was being dispatched EPD officers heard screams for help coming from the police department lobby and an officer found Santana Potts, 32, in the lobby with one of her family members. Potts, suffering from a gunshot wound to the right arm, told police she

Police Say Large Gash To Face Reveals Eustis Shooter’s Motive To Pull Trigger On Woman Read More »

Eustis / By Marilyn M. Aciego / August 30, 2022

Lake’s School Resource Deputies And K9 Max Work Straight Through The Summer

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. From August to May each school year, Lake County Sheriff’s Office school resource deputies (SRDs) are in Lake County public schools protecting children and keeping the schools safe, but what are they doing during the summer? Master Deputy Tim McCaig and his K9 partner Max are riding the streets of Lake County helping the patrol unit and nosing around for illegal narcotics, McCaig told Lake Legal News Friday; most often, they back up other deputies upon request. Max is a single-purpose passive K9, which means he does not bite and chase people,

Lake’s School Resource Deputies And K9 Max Work Straight Through The Summer Read More »

Features / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 16, 2021

9-1-1 Call Of Female Shot Near Myung Sung Store In Eustis

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — Eustis Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred just after 12:30 p.m. near a popular store Monday, said Eustis Police Officer Lauren Brown. At 12:37 p.m. Eustis Police received a 911 call stating a female had been shot near Myung Sung Store at the corner of Palmetto Street and McDonald Avenue. The 32-year-old woman was airlifted to an area hospital for her injuries. She is in stable condition, Brown said. This is ongoing investigation, if you have information; call Eustis Police Department at 352-357-4121.

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Eustis / By Marilyn M. Aciego / August 30, 2022

Tomorrow’s Broadcast: Dr. Phil Features Lake County’s ‘Murder-For-Hire Plot’ Cheerleader

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. UMATILLA, Florida — A local case that received national attention last September will be in the national spotlight again on Thursday. The parents of Alyssa Hatcher, the former Umatilla High School cheerleader who tried to hire two people to murder them, are scheduled to appear on Dr. Phil Thursday, according to the show’s website, drphil.com. In September 2019, the murder-for-hire plot was foiled after a witness came forward and told the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Hatcher paid two different people to murder her parents — one of them a Clermont Police

Tomorrow’s Broadcast: Dr. Phil Features Lake County’s ‘Murder-For-Hire Plot’ Cheerleader Read More »

Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 14, 2023

Weeks Of Threats To Shoot Up An Astatula House

The following story was published under a different headline in another publication. ASTATULA, Florida — A Leesburg man who threatened to shoot up his victim’s house for several weeks followed through on his threat Thursday night — the same the day victim attended his daughter’s funeral. According to an arrest affidavit, Groveland Police were investigating the theft of a 2007 Toyota Scion and Bobby Lynn Russell, 25, was named a suspect. About 10 minutes later, the Lake County Communications Center received a report of a drive-by shooting in Astatula and again, Russell was named a suspect. The victim told a

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Astatula / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 16, 2021

Meet A Public Information Officer: Lauren Brown

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. As a young boy watching airplanes at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines in South Florida, Eustis Police Officer Lauren Brown imagined one day he would be flying one of those planes, but happening upon a vehicle crash changed everything. Born in Jamaica, Brown, 35, moved to Fort Lauderdale when he was only 10 years old. “My parents wanted to get out of there. [They] wanted to give me a better life,” Brown tells Lake Legal News. He had a love of airplanes and wanted to be a pilot, even building model

Meet A Public Information Officer: Lauren Brown Read More »

Eustis, Features / By Marilyn M. Aciego / December 30, 2024

Exclusive: Wounded Eustis Police Captain Says, “I Want My Story To Be Told By Me.”

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. EUSTIS, Florida — Eustis Police Captain Gary Winheim is grateful to be alive and grateful to the community he serves. “I am humbled by the outpouring of support from the community. [I have] enormous respect for all the fire, medical and law enforcement professionals in the incident. Our community is truly strong.” Just two days after being shot in the neck by an ex-con with a violent history, Winheim, his wife, Stephenie, and their beloved dog Laike sat down in their home with Lake Legal News for an exclusive interview Saturday. “This

Exclusive: Wounded Eustis Police Captain Says, “I Want My Story To Be Told By Me.” Read More »

Eustis, Inside Scoop / By Marilyn M. Aciego / September 19, 2021

Mascotte Police Cruiser Crashes, Burns, Injured Officer Ejected — All As Brazen Pair Loot Police Property

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. MASCOTTE, Florida — A pair of accused thieves are behind bars after stealing from a wrecked police cruiser. Shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, Mascotte Police officers responded to a single-car crash involving a Mascotte Police officer at North Talbott Avenue and East Myers Boulevard in Mascotte. The cruiser — which caught fire — was totaled, the officer badly injured, and numerous items were ejected as a result of the crash, according to arrest affidavits. Police observed Lisa Carol Goodwin, 52, standing around near the crash scene with other civilians, according

Mascotte Police Cruiser Crashes, Burns, Injured Officer Ejected — All As Brazen Pair Loot Police Property Read More »

Mascotte / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 16, 2021

Ford of Clermont Body Shop Manager Accused of $500,000 Embezzlement

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. CLERMONT, Florida – A Clermont man is facing scheme to defraud and grand theft charges after a nearly year-long investigation by Clermont Police revealed he stole more than half a million dollars from his place of employment, according to a probable cause affidavit. Michael Deardoff, owner of Ford of Clermont, and another individual went to Clermont Police Department in October 2018 to report he suspected his body shop manager, Thomas Joseph Pritchard, 60, was misappropriating funds and claimed he had documentation to prove it. He also told police several employees

Ford of Clermont Body Shop Manager Accused of $500,000 Embezzlement Read More »

Clermont / By Marilyn M. Aciego / August 30, 2022

Child Reports Being Molested By Man And Woman — Man Released From Lake County Jail, Woman Remains On “No Bond”

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. MINNEOLA, Florida — A woman is behind bars and a man released on $100,000 bond after a child disclosed to a school resource officer she had been molested, according to arrest affidavits. Cassandra Leigh Montgomery, 44, admitted to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office detective that she told the victim — who was 7 years old at the time — to touch Emmanuel Paul Blaise’s penis before Montgomery had sex with him in front of the little girl, according to Montgomery’s arrest affidavit. Due to heavy redaction in the affidavit, it

Child Reports Being Molested By Man And Woman — Man Released From Lake County Jail, Woman Remains On “No Bond” Read More »

Minneola / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 16, 2021

Sheriff Chris Daniels

This Article was First Published in Lake Legal News in August 2016 — Issue No. 27. LAKE LEGAL NEWS EDITOR’S PROLOGUE: Our LLN associate editor, Marilyn M. Aciego, worked for a local newspaper in 2006. Just a few months after she was promoted to the Lake County, Florida, police beat, the county experienced a year its citizens would never forget. On an August day in 2006, Marilyn found out she was pregnant with her only child on the very same day that little Trenton Duckett was reported missing. Marilyn would become a frequent guest on Nancy Grace to discuss the nationwide story and just a

Sheriff Chris Daniels Read More »

Inside Scoop / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 16, 2021

Lake Juvenile’s Plot to Kill Parents Foiled

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. [09/11/19 1:44 p.m.] UMATILLA, Florida – In a story that has now gained national attention, LLN was the very first to report that one of the the Umatilla High School cheerleader’s intended murder victims – her stepfather – is a Clermont law enforcement officer. Now LLN is the very first to report that this same 17-year-old girl who is accused of plotting to have her mother and stepfather killed is no stranger to the law. LLN was tipped off late Tuesday that Alyssa Hatcher’s stepfather’s guns were stolen last year during one of multiple house parties thrown

Lake Juvenile’s Plot to Kill Parents Foiled Read More »

Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego / November 14, 2023

Inappropriate Teacher-Video Leaks Out To Lake County Students

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News. [09/06/19 9:45 p.m.] UMATILLA, Florida – Due to the nature of its content, LLN is declining to publish the video itself, to avoid further mental harm to students. However, even a cropped screenshot excerpt of the leaked video reveals that the unnamed woman appeared shocked at the salacious language being used, which is the subject of the ongoing investigation by Lake County Schools. [09/06/19 4:56 p.m.] UMATILLA, Florida – Lt. John Herrell has informed LLN that the LCSO took a report, investigated the matter, and having determined that no criminal violation exists, has referred the matter

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Inside Scoop, Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego / January 23, 2022