Marilyn M. Aciego, Author at Inside Lake

Photo Credit: Lake County Sheriff Office

Fruitland Park Family Lock Themselves In Room As Father Goes On Shooting Rampage With Pellet Gun

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

FRUITLAND PARK, Florida — A man is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond facing two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after shooting his wife and daughter with an Air Soft pellet gun, according to an arrest affidavit.

Fruitland Park Police responded to a home on Tropic Circle Thursday and found Jeffrey John Miller, 39, on the back porch of the residence loading a magazine for an Air Soft pellet gun. Miller, who had slurred speech and trouble walking, “was unable to complete a sentence nor a single thought,” the arresting officer noted in the affidavit. “The only thing [Miller] kept saying was he just woke up from a deep sleep, walked out to the back porch and the cops were everywhere.

Before calling police, Miller’s daughter told her stepmother her dad shot her in the back with the pellet gun for no reason. When his wife questioned him, he is alleged to have opened fire on her, striking her in the right knee area. Miller then went back to his daughter’s room and “started to shoot her room up” while she was still in the room, the affidavit states; she was struck four times in the right foot. Her age was unavailable at press time.

Miller’s wife questioned him about missing medication, and he became “argumentative” and scared her and the other four children in the home. They locked themselves in a room in fear of being shot with the pellet gun again and called 9-1-1.

Lake EMS also responded to the scene and after evaluating Miller, they believed him to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Further investigation revealed Miller may have taken as many as 30 pills of two types of medication.

Miller was taken to a local hospital where he continually denied shooting at his family and denied taking any pills, according to the affidavit. Miller was cleared by the hospital and transported to the Lake County Jail.

Fruitland Park Family Lock Themselves In Room As Father Goes On Shooting Rampage With Pellet Gun Read More »

Clermont 7-Eleven Employee Accused Of Erasing Transactions From Cash Register’s “Memory”

Clermont / By Marilyn M. Aciego

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

Clermont, Florida — An employee of a local gas station is facing grand theft and scheming to defraud charges after he was found stealing cash from the business.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to 7-Eleven, 1635 U.S. Highway 27, Clermont Wednesday after a man reported he was reviewing transactions and video surveillance from January through March and found that an employee was stealing.

According to the complainant, Luis Miguel Martinez-Rivas, 30, was captured on video on multiple occasions ringing a customer up and putting the transaction into “memory” instead of “final sale.” Once the customer left the store, Martinez-Rivas would void the purchase and place the cash from the transaction to the left side of the drawer where the $100 bills were kept, according to the arrest affidavit. He would then pocket the money throughout the night or use it to purchase items for an unknown friend.

A video from March 18, shows Martinez-Rivas, of Clermont, ringing up a customer and moving the cash to the left side of the drawer. The next customer, Martinez-Rivas’ friend, approaches the counter with a gift card and hands it to Martinez-Rivas, who activates the gift card. Martinez-Rivas then pockets his friend’s money and rings up Coors Light beer his friend has and uses the money from the left side of the drawer to pay for the beer. The total amount stolen between January and March was $2,250, the affidavit states.

LCSO went to Martinez-Rivas’ home to question him and he spoke about the complainant’s father, according to the affidavit. He was arrested and on the ride to the Lake County Jail, he told the arresting deputy he was not being paid properly and he needed the money because his son was coming from Puerto Rico.

Martinez-Rivas was booked into LCJ, where he is being held on $7,000 bond.

Clermont 7-Eleven Employee Accused Of Erasing Transactions From Cash Register’s “Memory” Read More »

Tavares Woman Seeks Justice — Refuses To Let Her Sister’s Recent Murder Become A ‘Cold Case’

Around the County, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

Tavares, Florida — “Somebody knows something.”

Amy Harris wants justice.

Harris’ younger sister, Melissa Nease, 29, was found murdered in her secluded Ocklawaha home in Marion County the afternoon of Feb. 28, by a family friend, Harris told Lake Legal News Monday.

Nease, a 2010 graduate of Tavares High School, was home alone while her boyfriend and three children were out of town when she was shot and killed by two unknown individuals. Marion County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case. MCSO has released very little information in the young mom’s murder; a small clip of a surveillance video from Nease’ home the day of her murder was released March 11, but there has not been any new information since.

“Unfortunately, we do not have any new information to give out. Detectives are following up on any and all leads that have come in on this case,” MCSO Public Information Officer Sgt. Paul Bloom told LLN in an email.

Nease did have cameras with flood lights outside her home, Harris said. The video released by MCSO shows a man in a hoodie, skull cap and mask running from the home and tripping over a chair. At one point the masked man looks directly into the camera. The flood lights may distort the person’s image, but Harris believes someone knows who he is and is urging them to come forward.

PHOTO: Facebook / Melissa Marie; Marion County Sheriff’s Office

Harris told LLN the house her sister shared with her boyfriend, Jeremy “Shane” Jenkins at 68 Guava Pass Drive was very secluded, and only has two neighboring houses, one of which is empty. Jenkins is offering a $20,000 reward in the case, Harris said.

The intruders entered and left through the back of the home and Harris finds it strange that the family dogs— one a pit bull— did not deter them from entering her sister’s home. The dogs were crated, but Harris believes the barking alone would have deterred most people.

“You had to know this house to be able to get into it,” Harris said. “It’s out in the middle of nowhere.”

Harris, who went to and graduated college with her little sister, cannot understand why someone would murder her. “It’s not adding up,” she said Monday, more than three weeks after the senseless murder. Since nearly a month has passed already, Harris is concerned the case may become cold. “I refuse to let that happen,” she said. Harris described her sister as “prissy, funny and bubbly” and a “spitfire.” Nease had a heart of gold she said, and “loved and trusted everybody.” “If I could say anything about my sister— she was meant to be a mom,” Harris said. “Three babies are without their mother.” Nease had two daughters, ages 10 and 2 and an 8-year-old son. Nease was always working on school projects with her kids and Harris’ kids, as well. “She was the PTA [type] mom,” Harris fondly says of her sister.

Harris said she will not rest until her sister’s killers are caught. “I’m trying to rattle whoever did it.”

If you have information on the murder of Nease, call MCSO Det. Daniel Pinder at (352) 368-3508 or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Marion County Crime Stoppers at (352) 368-STOP (7867) and reference 21-20 in your call.

Tavares Woman Seeks Justice — Refuses To Let Her Sister’s Recent Murder Become A ‘Cold Case’ Read More »

Photo Credit: Lake County Sheriff's Office

Man Blocks Traffic In Lady Lake With Construction Site “Road Closed” Sign

Lady Lake / By Marilyn M. Aciego

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

LADY LAKE, Florida — A man who is accused of swinging a board and a pipe at passing vehicles Thursday night near a busy intersection is being held in the Lake County Jail on $500 bond.

Lady Lake Police Department responded to U.S. Highway 441/27 near Hartsock Sawmill Road after numerous reports that a man was attempting to strike passing vehicles with a pipe and a board, backing traffic up to Eagles Nest Road in Fruitland Park, around 9 p.m. Thursday. When LLPD arrived, they observed Floyd Thomas Coburn Jr., 29, who is listed as homeless, standing in the middle of U.S. Highway 27/441 raising a 3-to-4-foot long pipe in the air, according to an arrest affidavit.

When police arrived, Coburn, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the arresting officer, dropped the pipe and began running and eventually sat down on a concrete barrier and was taken into custody.

Witnesses told police Coburn had also taken a “road closed” sign from a nearby construction area and placed it in the middle of the road blocking traffic; it was removed before police arrived.

Coburn was arrested for disorderly conduct and transported to the Lake County Jail. With the exception of 2014, Coburn has been booked into the Lake County Jail at least once every year since 2011.

Man Blocks Traffic In Lady Lake With Construction Site “Road Closed” Sign Read More »

‘Fraudulent Receipt’ Scam Man Has Used For Years Gets Him Caught At Bealls Store, In Eustis

Eustis / By Marilyn M. Aciego

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

EUSTIS, Florida — A homeless man who told police he had been using fraudulent receipts “for years to get money” was busted for that offense and possessing methamphetamine Saturday, according to an arrest affidavit.

Eustis Police responded to Bealls, 2802 David Walker Drive on a report of a man using fraudulent receipts. An employee told EPD Darin Clay Grenier, 44, had committed fraud at their other location and the employee had been watching for him. He said Grenier entered the store and took a cooler and jewelry totaling nearly $80 and returned — it using a fraudulent receipt.

The employee approached Grenier, and he gave him $64 back, according to the affidavit. Grenier walked outside and sat on a bench until EPD arrived. When Grenier spoke with officers, he admitted to finding the receipts outside and fraudulently using them to receive cash. “[He] explained he was homeless and has been doing this for years so he can get money,” the arresting officer noted in the affidavit. (Lake County Jail records reveal numerous previous charges against Grenier— including several related to theft and fraudulent refunds.)

Photo Credits: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

EPD searched the backpack Grenier had with him and found an orange pipe with residue and baggie with a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Grenier then returned the remaining cash he received to the Bealls’ employee and he was arrested for use of a fraudulently obtained receipt, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on $4,000 bond.

‘Fraudulent Receipt’ Scam Man Has Used For Years Gets Him Caught At Bealls Store, In Eustis Read More »

Breaking The Glass: LCSO Makes History With First Female Captain

Inside Scoop, Leesburg, Tavares / By Marilyn M. Aciego

The following story was published under a different headline in another publication.

LEESBURG, Florida — History was made Wednesday as longtime Lake County Sheriff’s deputy Christie Mysinger was appointed as the first-ever female captain at LCSO at a ceremony at Leesburg High School.
LCSO Sheriff Peyton Grinnell is the first sheriff to appoint a woman to his command staff.
“It’s history in the making, “ Grinnell told Lake Legal News. He said he chose Mysinger for a number of reasons, including her college education and her ability to think outside the box. “She has excelled in everything she has been assigned to,” he said. “She thinks outside the box, she doesn’t hesitate; that’s important to me because I learn from my employees.” He noted how well she supervised the school resource unit and how important school safety is, along with forging into the unknown with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mysinger, a 30-year veteran, rose through the ranks in her career, starting at LCSO when she was just 20 years old. At 20, Mysinger looked so young, someone once reported her to LCSO for driving her “dad’s patrol car,” she remembers with a laugh.

Becoming a captain was one of Mysinger’s goals from the start of her career and being appointed the first female was something she never envisioned.
“It is both an honor and a huge responsibility. Not only am I being given the opportunity to forge a new path, but I also have the responsibility of being a role model for the many young women who are just beginning their careers in law enforcement.”
Mysinger has served in numerous different capacities at LCSO, including road patrol, field training officer, mounted patrol, community services, public information officer, DARE and most recently as lieutenant in the school resource unit — her third time in the unit. She served first as a deputy, later as a sergeant and finally as lieutenant.

“Every time I came back to the unit, I was a higher rank,” Mysinger told LLN earlier this week.”
Mysinger will now serve as captain over support services, emergency management bureau, aviation and communications.

Grinnelll gave a small speech to his deputies and attendees and said how blessed they are to work in Lake County — a county that is so supportive of law enforcement. He thanked all of his deputies for “holding the ‘thin blue line,’” and said, “All of you make me look good.”

Mysinger was joined by 21 other deputies who were also promoted Wednesday, Todd English and Skott Jensen were appointed to major; Russ Edwards, Michael Marden, Mysinger and Shawn Vance were appointed to captain; Cameron Crews, Fred Jones, Tim O’Brien and Bill Reed were promoted to lieutenant; Tim Beary, Sandi Chessher, Jasen McCormick and Billy Walls were promoted to sergeant and Brandon Barnard, Joe Brocato, Austin Chandler, Richard Dolen, Adam Kelly, Charles Pendergrass, Todd Rowley and Jarrod Strickland were promoted to corporal. Captain positions and above are appointed by the sheriff, lieutenant positions and below are earned through testing and an interview.

Major Chris DeLibro announced each deputy’s name and they walked across the stage to get their certificate and pose for a photo with Grinnell. Newly-promoted Lt. Fred Jones stopped in the middle of the stage, pointed out towards the crowd and yelled, “I love you, mama,” which drew cheers and applause from the audience and it was an extra special day for newly-appointed Capt. Michael Marden, Wednesday was also his birthday and DeLibro led the audience in a rendition of the “Happy Birthday” song.

Breaking The Glass: LCSO Makes History With First Female Captain Read More »

Surveillance On Montverde Home Leads To Alleged Meth Trafficker Heading Back To Jail On New Trafficking Charges

Montverde / By Marilyn M. Aciego

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

MONTVERDE, Florida — A man already wanted for trafficking methamphetamine was busted Friday with more than 450 grams of the addictive drug, according to an arrest affidavit.

Lake County Sheriff’s deputies were looking for David Joe Keller, 40, and surveilling a home on Heatherwood Lane in Montverde Friday when Keller left the home and got into the driver’s seat of a U-Haul truck. Keller, who has a suspended driver license, drove the truck eastbound down Heatherwood Lane and an LCSO deputy pulled him over.

Keller exited the truck and began to walk away, according to the affidavit, and after several commands he complied and was placed into handcuffs. An LCSO K9 handler and his K9 deputy, Goast, performed an open-air sniff of the truck and Goast immediately alerted on the driver’s door and deputies searched the truck. They found a glass pipe in the cupholder and a black backpack on the floorboard. Multiple bags of methamphetamine were found in the backpack, including one containing 410 grams of the drug, another bag containing an unknown white powder weighing 24 grams, six needles and two scales, according to the affidavit, and 26 grams of marijuana were found in the back of the U-Haul.

The U-Haul was towing a black trailer containing tools and several motorcycles, the affidavit states; one of the motorcycles, a 2003 Honda was found to be stolen out of Orange County and Keller was charged with grand theft auto in addition to driving while license suspended (habitual,) trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of marijuana more than 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. Keller, who was out on bond for previous charges in Lake and Hernando counties, was transported to the Lake County Jail where he is being held on no bond.

Surveillance On Montverde Home Leads To Alleged Meth Trafficker Heading Back To Jail On New Trafficking Charges Read More »

“Lyla” The Dog Dead Following Botched Amateur C-Section In Clermont Home

Clermont / By Marilyn M. Aciego

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

CLERMONT, Florida — A TikTok video of an amateur botched C-section that killed a white French bulldog landed two men behind bars Friday, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Larry Colon, 50, is alleged to have paid a man $650 to perform a c-section on his pregnant dog, Lyla, in Colon’s living room while Colon’s teenage daughter filmed the horrific surgery and posted it on the popular app TikTok Feb. 9.

The video shows Colon holding Lyla down on a metal table while Frankie Huertas-Rivera, 33, cuts Lyla open. Lyla is seen shaking and squirming in pain with her head thrashing back and forth, giving the appearance the dog is not completely sedated, according to the affidavit, Huertas-Rivera then removes puppies from Lyla.

Colon then took Lyla — after she was already dead — to a local vet following the C-section and an employee performed chest compressions on the French bulldog for 15 minutes in an attempt to save her life. Lyla was found with two dead puppies still inside her and is believed to have died from septic shock secondary to contamination and additional puppies left in her uterus, according to the affidavit.

The veterinarian told an LCSO deputy Lyla and her two dead puppies “suffered unjust cruelty and suffering due to unethical medical services performed,” the affidavit states.

Colon was picked up on a warrant Friday for animal cruelty and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $5,000 bond. Huertas-Rivera was arrested Friday in Hernando County on a warrant for animal cruelty and practicing without a license. He was released from the Hernando County Jail on $7,000 bond.

**Frankie Huertas-Rivera**
PHOTO: Hernando County Sheriff’s Office

**Larry Colon**
PHOTO: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

“Lyla” The Dog Dead Following Botched Amateur C-Section In Clermont Home Read More »

Interim Police Chief Says Mount Dora Police “Relentless In Our Efforts” To Bring Murderer To Justice

Mount Dora / By Marilyn M. Aciego

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

MOUNT DORA, Florida — Saturday marks two months since a beloved couple were gunned down in the store they owned, and their murderer still has not been identified despite three agencies actively investigating the case.

Minh “Tina” Nguyen, 47, and Khiem “Ken” Ba Trinh, 56, were shot around 9 p.m. Nov. 30, at their popular store, T & N Market, 1345 North Grandview Street, just a few blocks from Mount Dora Police Department.

Video surveillance from outside the store showed an unidentified individual accosting Trinh at his grey Honda minivan in the parking lot and forcing him back into the store at gunpoint. Additional surveillance from inside the store shows the suspect arguing with the couple and fleeing the store. The actual shooting was not released to the public. The couple were found behind the counter suffering multiple gunshot wounds; Nguyen was pronounced dead on the scene and Trinh was airlifted to Central Regional Medical Center in Sanford, where he later died.

Leads and tips have continued to come in since the murders, City of Mount Dora Spokeswoman Lisa McDonald said in an email to Lake Legal News earlier this week. MDPD, the 5^th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are “vigorously investigating the case and continue to make progress,” the email said.

In a press conference the day after the murders, MDPD Interim Chief Brett Meade said, “This is a dagger in all of our hearts,” and that sentiment was echoed through numerous social media posts by locals who knew the well-known couple.

MDPD did make one arrest related to the case in December. Undrea Lashaye Dixon, 42, of Mount Dora was arrested on Dec. 4 for perjury in an official proceeding, a felony. Police say Dixon went into the store around a minute after the shooting and though she saw the couple suffering and moaning behind the counter, she failed to render aid and did not call for help. She was captured on surveillance entering the store and returned to the scene several hours later where a MDPD officer recognized her. She told police she “saw nothing.”

According to Lake County Clerk online records, the perjury charge has since been reduced to a misdemeanor charge of false information to a law enforcement officer. Dixon is still in the Lake County Jail serving a sentence for an unrelated criminal traffic violation. The details of that case were unavailable at press time.

“The Mount Dora Police Department and our law enforcement partners continue to meticulously investigate and follow-up every aspect of this terrible crime. We are relentless in our efforts and bringing the perpetrator(s) to justice is our top priority. Eventually, those responsible will be held accountable for their actions, it’s only a matter of time,” Meade told LLN in an email.

If you have information on the murders, call MDPD at 352-735-7130 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Crimeline callers may be eligible for a reward.

Interim Police Chief Says Mount Dora Police “Relentless In Our Efforts” To Bring Murderer To Justice Read More »

Bond Set At $1.75 Million For Alleged Umatilla Shooter, Now In Custody

Umatilla / By Marilyn M. Aciego

The following story was previously published on Lake Legal News.

UMATILLA, Florida – The man who the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was looking for in connection with a shooting in Umatilla earlier this month is in custody.

Jack Lamarbenn Brown II, 34, is accused of shooting the victim at a home on Highland Street shortly before 11:30 a.m. Jan. 20. The victim was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Brown, of Eustis, is facing an attempted first degree murder charge and a charge of shooting into an occupied dwelling. He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $1.75 million bond. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 22.

The shooting caused both Umatilla Middle School and Umatilla High School to be locked down for a short period of time, Lake County Schools said the day of the incident.

Investigators have not released a motive for the shooting.

Bond Set At $1.75 Million For Alleged Umatilla Shooter, Now In Custody Read More »

Marilyn M. Aciego

Fruitland Park Family Lock Themselves In Room As Father Goes On Shooting Rampage With Pellet Gun

Clermont 7-Eleven Employee Accused Of Erasing Transactions From Cash Register’s “Memory”

Tavares Woman Seeks Justice — Refuses To Let Her Sister’s Recent Murder Become A ‘Cold Case’

Man Blocks Traffic In Lady Lake With Construction Site “Road Closed” Sign

‘Fraudulent Receipt’ Scam Man Has Used For Years Gets Him Caught At Bealls Store, In Eustis

Breaking The Glass: LCSO Makes History With First Female Captain

Surveillance On Montverde Home Leads To Alleged Meth Trafficker Heading Back To Jail On New Trafficking Charges

“Lyla” The Dog Dead Following Botched Amateur C-Section In Clermont Home

Interim Police Chief Says Mount Dora Police “Relentless In Our Efforts” To Bring Murderer To Justice

Bond Set At $1.75 Million For Alleged Umatilla Shooter, Now In Custody

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