MOORE HAVEN — Mario Monroy Hughes was murdered Jan. 31, 2014. On Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, a Moore Haven man accused of having Mr. Hughes killed was booked into the Glades County Jail.

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) delivered Artavistus Lyndrel Ware, 35, to Glades County on charges of first-degree murder with a firearm, conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with a victim/witness/informant, solicitation to commit murder, solicitation to commit tampering with a witness and burglary of a dwelling.

Artavistus Lyndrel Ware being delivered to the Glades County Jail.

Bond had not been set as of newspaper deadline because Ware had not had his first-appearance hearing. Ware did not have an attorney as of newspaper deadline.

Ware was indicted by a Glades County grand jury Thursday, Jan. 26, in Moore Haven.

FDLE Special Agent Steven Harris said that 3 years ago, Mr. Hughes was set to testify against Ware in a drug case, but the state’s witness was gunned down before he got the chance. The agent declined to say what type of gun was used in the killing.

Ware was convicted on the drug charges nonetheless and has been in the Calhoun Correctional Institution in Blountstown since April of 2014.

Mr. Hughes, who was 31 at the time of his murder, was gunned down at his Park Avenue S.E. home in Moore Haven. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Glades County emergency medical personnel. Agent Harris said the man was shot multiple times.

Agent Harris, a former detective with the Glades County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO), has been on the case since day one, as has FDLE Special Agent Kevin Sapp. Agent Sapp is the lead investigator on the case.

Agent Harris said Tuesday he’s glad an arrest was finally made in the case.
“It’s a relief, and I’m glad we gave some closure for the family,” he sad. “But, there’s still a lot of work to do and we’re going to see it through to the end.”

Mr. Hughes was born in El Salvador but grew up in Moore Haven and graduated from Moore Haven High School in 2000. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve until his death.

He is survived by his three children, his parents, a grandmother, a brother and sister and several nieces and nephews.

According to the FDLE, Ware had Mr. Hughes killed to keep him from testifying.

Ware was convicted on eight felony drug charges including the sale of cocaine and the sale of schedule I and II narcotics. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

He will be prosecuted by assistant state’s attorneys Christopher Klink and J.D. Miller from the office of the state attorney for the 20th judicial circuit.

Agent Harris said despite this arrest, the investigation is continuing.

OKEECHOBEE — A local detective is seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who is possibly a suspect in a stolen car case.

Apparently a 2014 dark gray Chrysler 300 was stolen from the 38000 block of N.W. 35th Avenue in Okeechobee on Jan. 19 between the hours of 1 and 7 a.m.

While the vehicle has been recovered Detective Sergeant Jimmy Mills, from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), would like to speak with the man seen in the accompanying photo as he was leaving Walmart.

If you can identify the man in the photo or have any other information about this case, contact Sgt. Mills at 863-763-3117, ext. 5116, and refer to case #17SO1349.

OKEECHOBEE — An Okeechobee man has been arrested and charged with allegedly conning a group of Mexican men and women into paying him for the right to pick saw palmetto berries on someone else’s land.

Assistant state attorney Ashley Albright said Thursday, Feb. 2, that Timothy Sherman Courson, 24, told the 11 men they could enter the property on Sept. 10, 2016, and pick all the palmetto berries they wanted.

COURSON, TIMOTHY

He then charged them $50 per head. When they were done, they had picked over $4,000 worth of berries.

The berries were seized by law enforcement after deputies caught the group trespassing on private property.

The property in question is the Triple Diamond Ranch, 100 N.W. 224th St.

Courson, N.W. 42nd Ave., was charged with one felony count of grand theft and two felony counts of cheating at common law. He was also arrested on one misdemeanor charge of petit theft.

He is being held in the Okeechobee County Jail on a bond of $80,000.

According to Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) arrest reports the total of 11 men and women scaled a fence on the ranch property and picked the berries for two days.

OCSO Deputy Cody Hurst’s report said the seven men and four women from Immokalee ranged in age from 18 to 60. They were all arrested on a misdemeanor charge of trespassing.

Mr. Albright said those charges have been dropped.

When the pickers were arrested they had two notes in their possession.

The first note read: “I, Sam Klemens, give these four Spanish people permission to pick berry (sic) off Double Diamond.”

The second note read: “I, Sam, give these 10 Spanish people permission to pick berries.”

“He did this over two different days,” said Mr. Albright. “He said he was a representative of the ranch manager.”

But, he obviously wasn’t.

The pickers then paid him in cash and scaled a 6-foot fence onto the property owned by Triple Diamond Ranch. The property is posted with no trespassing signs in both English and Spanish, noted the deputy’s report.

Basically, pointed out Mr. Albright, Courson told the people here’s the berries — go pick them.

The prosecutor went on to say his investigation into this incident is continuing.

OKEECHOBEE — Detective Bill Saum is living proof that anyone can be victimized by scammers.

Although the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD) investigator and his wife, Gail, were able to avoid any monetary loss, it was close.

Tuesday, Jan. 31, Gail called her husband at work and told him she had received seven emails. Some stated their purchase order had been confirmed and their order had been shipped. A couple even directed them to sign their purchase agreement.

The emails came from NoReplyatSprint.com.

All of this was very confusing to the couple because they had not ordered anything from Sprint.

Oh, but they had — they just didn’t know it.

“Sprint sent this to me, but I didn’t tell them to. The package was shipped ‘next day’ so they knew when it was going to arrive,” Detective Saum pointed out.

Later that day a United Parcel Service (UPS) truck pulled up to the couple’s home and the driver asked Gail to sign for the package. By looking at the shipping label she was able to determine the package was from Sprint. But since neither she nor her husband had ordered anything from the phone company, she refused to accept the package.

Smart.

The OCPD detective said the package contained three, brand new i-Phone 7 cell phones. Detective Saum estimated their value to be around $2,000.
A quick check of different retail outlets revealed the phones have purchase prices varying from $649 to $937.

If Gail had accepted the package, she and her husband would have been on the hook for the total price of the phones they didn’t order.

So, what’s the scam?

Basically, the scammers send these phones to homes where they believe no one will be home. They depend on the delivery service to just drop off the package then leave. The scammer will then pick up the package and sell the phones on the street for pure profit, while folks like the Saums pay the bill.

“It’s fortunate my wife works at home and watches her emails,” mused Detective Saum.

But, what the scammers didn’t count on is UPS will no longer just drop off a package then leave simply because of this scam, pointed out the OCPD investigator.

After learning what had transpired, Detective Saum went to the local Sprint store where they verified that he and his wife were being scammed.

How the con artists got the couple’s personal information is anyone’s guess.

“Scammers are smart. It’s almost impossible to keep things private any more,” said the detective. “How they got my account number, I have no idea.

I don’t even know my own account number!

“The scary part is, you don’t know if they’re (the bad guys) coming back. They don’t know I’m a cop,” he added.

When he got home that evening, the detective said he went to his neighbors and asked them to keep their eyes open for vehicles pulling up to his home.

“I told my neighbors if they see anyone pull up to my home then pull away, get their tag number because they’re there to pick up the phones,” he said.

The moral of this story is simple: If a package is brought to your home and you didn’t order anything, don’t shout in surprise: “Oh boy! Somebody sent me something!” Because if you accept it, that surprise could turn out to be very expensive and very dangerous.

OKEECHOBEE — It’s a scene familiar in old-time Westerns featuring the great expansion west: the train’s journey is halted by a herd of cows standing across the railroad tracks. Here’s the twist: it’s only one cow and the train is an Amtrak.

Deputy Bryan Holden of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Department (OCSO) reported to the scene of the accident, the CSX railroad tracks approximately three miles east of the Lofton Road crossing, on Feb. 4. A call had been received about an Amtrak train colliding with a cow. The train engineer advised Deputy Holden that no damage was done to the train or passengers.

According to Deputy Holden, he contacted the cow’s owner, who responded to the scene and removed the cow from the railroad tracks. Once the tracks were cleared, Deputy Holden’s report stated that he found two piles of hominy, which is ground corn, in the middle of the tracks. The two piles were approximately half a mile apart.

The cow’s owner advised the deputy that he has been having trouble with poachers cutting his fence and entering his property from the tracks to hunt.

The man stated it has been an ongoing problem with poachers hunting along the railroad tracks as well.

The point of impact occurred at one of the piles of hominy. Deputy Holden’s report indicated that it is believed the cow stood on the railroad tracks eating the hominy at the time the train struck the cow. It is unknown whether the hominy was placed on the tracks by poachers or spillage from a freight train hauling commodities.

The cow’s owner stated he would begin checking his fence daily until the poaching problem can be stopped by law enforcement. At the time of the report, the deputy and owner were unable to locate the spot in the fence where the cow had escaped.

OKEECHOBEE — Bad boys will never learn that attempting to flee and elude the police will never end well for them.

At nearly 3 a.m. on Feb. 7, Deputy Yero Todman of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a white 2006 Ford pickup truck for suspicious behavior and occupants not wearing their seatbelts. The driver, later identified as Robert Bryan Smith, apparently had different plans and intentionally did not stop for the red and blue flashing lights and siren of the marked patrol unit on U.S. 98 North and N.W. 18th Street heading west. He drove the vehicle through the fence at the end of N.W. 18th Street, causing extensive damage, and then through a second fence located on the 2000 block of N.W. 50th Ave.

Robert Bryan Smith

The estimated value of the second fence was $1,200 and the property owner, after being notified, wished to pursue criminal charges.

Deputy Brian Cross and K-9 Magnum responded to the 2100 block of N.W. 50th Avenue in reference to a K-9 utilization report. Upon arrival, the report states Deputy Cross made contact with Deputy Todman, who told him that two white, male suspects crashed a stolen vehicle and fled on foot. Deputy Todman reportedly described the driver as short haired, possibly bald while the passenger had black hair.

Deputy Cross then retrieved K-9 Magnum from his patrol vehicle and tasked him to track the vehicle, which had allegedly been stolen from W.C.E. Equipment on Monday, Feb. 6. K-9 Magnum picked up human scent and tracked westbound, then turned northbound crossing two fences and then turning westbound. He tracked approximately 150 yards, according to Deputy Cross’ report, until they reached a heavily wooded area containing heavy palmettos and vines.

K-9 Magnum then began air scenting and pulling to the north. Deputy Cross and K-9 Magnum entered the palmettos and began crawling on their stomachs. Deputy Cross kept tying K-9 Magnum up to the palmettos so he could crawl and catch up with him. K-9 Magnum could smell the suspect and began barking continuously. Deputy Cross gave multiple K-9 warnings and received no response, according to the report.

Upon reaching the outer edge of the palmettos, K-9 Magnum engaged Smith in the right leg while he was hiding facedown in the palmettos. Deputy Cross ordered Smith to show his hands, and after a few seconds, he complied.

Deputy Cross then ordered K-9 Magnum to watch Smith while he was placed in wrist restraints.

Smith was treated for a canine bite at Raulerson Hospital. He also allegedly had a black and grey backpack on his person when deputies took him into custody. Deputy Quinton Speed’s search of the backpack yielded a small plastic bag that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Two pill containers with four compartments were located as well. One container had one gram of meth in the bedtime compartment; the second container had meth residue in the supper compartment. The deputies also allegedly found a needle with the meth. An SCT flash device used to change the fuel consumption in vehicle engine was also recovered from the backpack.

Smith was arrested on felony charges of fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, criminal mischief, driving while license suspended/revoked with knowledge, grand theft auto, resisting arrest without violence and possession of meth. His bond was set at $33,500.

OKEECHOBEE — If you get a phone call and the caller asks: “Can you hear me?” Hang up.

If you get a phone call and the caller asks: “Are you the man/woman of the house?” Hang up.

Or, if you get a call and the caller asks: “Are you responsible for the household bills?” Hang up.

These are just three scenarios used by scam artists to do only one thing: Get you to give an affirmative answer.

The answer can be yes, sure or OK — it doesn’t matter. Just so it’s affirmative.

Why?

It’s very simple, this scam that’s now making its way across the U.S. is called the ‘can you hear me scam?’ Its premise is this: If you give an affirmative answer to their question — such as, can you hear me — the scammer will record your yes answer.

Then, armed with you saying yes or sure, the con artist now has you authorizing unwanted charges on your phone or utility bill, or possibly a stolen credit card.

And if you try to say you didn’t agree to something, the bad guy already has your phone number and you saying “yes.”

Let’s say the bad guy has your credit card number, as a result of a data breach, and he racks up several thousand dollars worth of charges. How are you going to dispute the charge when he not only has your personal information, but your providing an affirmative answer via the recording?

What can you do?

If you suspect something nefarious is afoot, check your credit card statements closely as well as your phone and utility bills for charges with which you are unfamiliar. Call the billing company and dispute anything you did not authorize.

If the billing company says you have been recorded approving the charge and you don’t remember that, ask for proof.

If you still need help, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If the bogus charge is on your phone bill, the FTC regulates what’s known as phone bill ‘cramming.’ Also, if you have caller ID write down the caller’s phone number.

What do you do if you get a call and the caller asks one of these leading questions. The simple answer is hang up. Do not engage in conversation.

Simply put the phone on the receiver and go about your business.

If you are of the ilk that you think it’s rude to hang up on someone, then turn things around and ask: “Who are you?” “Why do you want to know?”

Trying to catch one of these scammers is virtually impossible. Nonetheless, what they are doing is illegal in several states — including Florida. The Florida statute number is 934.03(1)(a).

Assistant state attorney Don Richardson said the law is called unlawful use of communication and, simply put, it states you can’t record someone without their permission.

“If you do, it’s a third degree felony,” he said.

He went on to say violating this law is punishable by up to five years in prison.

If you get such a call, do not engage in any sort of conversation. Forget being polite and hang up.

Remember: The longer you talk, the better the chance you will unconsciously agree to something — namely, becoming a victim.

To contact the FTC, call 1-877-382-4357. Or, go online to www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

OKEECHOBEE — Talk about killing two birds with one stone — a man’s arrest led to the recovery of stolen property from two unrelated cases.

On Feb. 6, a local woman reported two trucks stolen from a 90-year-old woman’s property. Both vehicles, a 1987 Jeep Comanche pickup and a 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickup, were registered in the name of the woman’s late husband. Detective Mark Shireman of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation, and a neighbor advised that Marvin Brantley had allegedly towed the Jeep truck from the property. The man stated that he had witnessed this in the roadway in front of his house. He indicated to Detective Shireman that his wife had seen Mr. Brantley towing the S-10 pickup through town that same day.

According to the report, the detective made contact with Grant Drennan, who resided on the property. Drennan informed the detective that he had made the discovery of the missing vehicles and told his roommate, who also lived on the property. Drennan allegedly told the detective he did not know where the vehicle went and hadn’t been present when they disappeared.

When Detective Shireman made his way to Mr. Brantley’s place of business on U.S. 441 S., Mr. Brantley reportedly presented him with a bill of sale and advised that he had purchased both trucks and towed them. One truck, the Chevrolet, was still at the place of business, and the other truck was parked at the property of Brantley’s mother.

Brantley gave the detective a description of the man who sold him the trucks and mentioned the man’s girlfriend had only one leg. Initially, according to the report, the man in question was thought to be Grant Drennan, but contact was made with the girlfriend, who stated that she actually dates Grant’s brother, Ronald. Mr. Brantley allegedly agreed to call if the suspect returned to his business.

On Feb. 9, Detective Shireman was called by the receptionist at Mr. Brantley’s business, who reported that the suspect had returned.

Ronald Drennan

Mr. Brantley informed Detective Shireman that two men, later identified as Ronald Drennan and Steve Crose, attempted to sell him a water pump.

He directed his employee to call law enforcement because of the earlier reported theft. He said he offered the men $80 for the pump, and that he would have to break a $100 bill to get $20 for gasoline and give the men the other eighty. Initially, according to Mr. Brantley, the men wanted to barter because they’d looked up the water pump online and found it valued at $1,300. He stated that he told them $80 or nothing, and they finally agreed.

Mr. Brantley then told the men to meet him at the Marathon Station in the 200 block of U.S. 441 S., where he would break the bill and give them their cut.

Detective Shireman agreed to meet Mr. Brantley at the Marathon Station, where Mr. Brantley directed the detective to the suspect sitting in a silver Ford Taurus.

At the same time Drennan was being arrested for the theft of the vehicles, the water pump was reported stolen from a construction site at the intersection of N.W. 128th Ave. and State Road 70. (An article about this incident appeared in the Sunday, Feb. 12, edition of the Okeechobee News.)

Mr. Crose reportedly told the detective that Drennan had already been in possession of the water pump when Drennan picked him up from his house.

Drennan was arrested on two counts of grand theft auto, one count of grant theft, and three counts of dealing in stolen property. The total bond was set at $75,000.

OKEECHOBEE — The Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force seized more than seven pounds of marijuana from a local home on Wednesday.

Detective Chad Troutman of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), along with several members of the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force and Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT) executed a search warrant at a home on N.E. 60th Court in Okeechobee County on Feb. 15.

Prior to the search of the residence, Crime Scene Technicians photographed the residence’s exterior and interior, and as the detective approached the residence, he could detect the odor of marijuana. Once inside, the report continued, he could smell the odor of both burnt and green marijuana. In the first bedroom, two large glass jars were allegedly visible on the floor behind a lounge chair. One jar contained 38.80 grams of marijuana while the other contained 153.80 grams. On a table in one room, a wooden box was located with a Walmart card inside, along with 2.7 grams of marijuana, rolling papers, rolling paper device and grinder with marijuana residue.

Also found on the floor, the report stated, was a plastic bag containing 27.5 grams of marijuana. A small jar of dab/wax, otherwise known as marijuana extract, was located on top of the table. There was also an ashtray containing numerous burnt marijuana cigarettes, all of which had a total weight of 11.5 grams.

In the master bedroom closet, the police allegedly found two large black garbage bags containing 2.8 pounds of marijuana stems and trimmings.

In the closet ceiling, a hole had been cut with air conditioning ducting coming out of it. In the master bathroom, a vacuum sealer with unused bags was reportedly on top of the bathtub side. Seven bags of marijuana were found hidden underneath the bathtub, and the tub allegedly had access to the plumbing from under the sink area next to the tub. Of the seven bags, the report stated, two were sandwich style bags containing 35.2 grams and 37.0 grams of marijuana. Two were gallon sized and contained 96.2 grams and 83.5 grams. The remaining three bags were vacuumed sealed and contained 157.8 grams, 160.1 grams and 159.9 grams.

The report stated that in the main living area, a small bag containing .7 grams was located on top of the TV entertainment center.

In addition to the marijuana discovered inside the main house, the task force purportedly found 21 marijuana plants with active root systems in the mother-in-law addition. The addition, according to the report, was divided into two separate rooms with a garage door at the back of one of them. Inside this room were separate homemade wooden frame grow rooms complete with insulation. Reportedly, the part of the addition housing the grow rooms was only accessible from outside and not from the living area of the addition.

Along with the plants, law enforcement allegedly confiscated growing equipment, which was actively being used to include times, grow lights, ballasts, plant bamboo sticks and fans, thermometers, water hoses and a watering system, stated the report.

Karen Rayman

All marijuana plants, along with the finished product — meaning ready for resale, weighed approximately 7.6 pounds. 973 grams (2.14 pounds) of usable marijuana was allegedly packaged and ready for use and the remaining 5.45 pounds was from the plants and trimmings. The report stated that a sample was tested on site and showed positive for the presence of marijuana.

Kirk Rayman, 51 and Karen Rayman, 51, were both arrested on felony charges of cultivation of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of marijuana over 20 grams, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Two other persons who were on the property were transported to the Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed.

Kirk Rayman

OKEECHOBEE — Upon finding a small child walking in the middle of the street with no adult supervision, a concerned citizen stopped to help.

The man was traveling north on N.E. 18th Ave when he encountered the child, according to the report filed by Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy James Hartsfield. The small girl was only wearing a shirt and panties, and the concerned citizen picked her up for her own safety. She could not provide her name and only stated that she was 4-years-old.

The man stated that he had never seen the child before, but while he was waiting for the deputy to arrive, he had allegedly seen a woman wearing a pink shirt step out to the end of her driveway and look toward him. He then stated that the unknown woman walked back to her residence.

According to the report, the residence was located about 300 yards to the north of where the child was found.

Roberta Carnley

As the man filled out his witness statement, a white Dodge car pulled up, and a woman stepped out. She identified herself as the mother of the child, and provided the child’s name and birthdate. She indicated to the deputy that she had left the child with a babysitter, Roberta Carnley, while she picked up her boyfriend from work.

When asked if Carnley knew that she was babysitting the child, the mother responded yes. She went on to state that she had received a call at 5:37 p.m. from Carnley, who said that she could not find the child. The mother advised her not to panic and look for the child. She stated she was rushing back home when she spotted the child, man and deputy.

The mother told the deputy that her daughter was in the living room with Carnley and watched her leave the yard. She indicated that Carnley resides with her and babysits her daughter as needed for part of her rent.

After that, the deputy responded to the residence to speak with Carnley.

She was wearing a pink shirt, as the concerned citizen had described earlier.

Based on phone records, Carnley allegedly did not know the child’s whereabouts for a minimum of 19 minutes. She also reportedly never contacted the Sheriff’s Office to request assistance or report the child missing.

She was arrested on a felony charge of child neglect.

OKEECHOBEE — In completely unrelated incidents, an unresponsive man and a credit card skimmer were located at the Fort Drum Service Plaza, almost a day apart.

On Monday, Feb. 20, at approximately 3:30 p.m., members of the Florida Highway Patrol were at the Fort Drum Service Plaza on the Florida Turnpike due to the increase in thefts that have occurred over the past several months. Allegedly, three Hispanic males were observed at different locations inside the plaza displaying very peculiar and observant mannerisms. One of the subjects, wearing a grey t-shirt and black shorts, was stationed at the south front entrance and continued to observe the movement of troopers throughout the interior of the plaza while constantly talking on his phone. According to the report, he continued to stay positioned at the front entrance and never left that location until he exited the building.

The second male subject, also wearing a grey t-shirt but with dark blue jeans, reportedly took up a location near the ATM machine inside the service plaza. The subject remained in the same location throughout the duration of his visit to the service plaza. He never once spoke to anybody or attempted to purchase items from the service plaza, stated the report.

He also kept a visual on the troopers as they walked through the service plaza.

The third male subject, wearing a pair of black rim glasses, a white t-shirt and jeans, continued to walk back and forth in an allegedly deliberate manner inside the service plaza. According to the report, he also did not speak to or engage anyone within the service plaza, but did continue to observe the troopers. All three subjects reportedly seemed nervous and looked as if they were uncomfortable with law enforcement being in the general area.

The decision was made to have the troopers exit the service plaza, continued the report, in order to observe the subjects from a distance. After approximately 45 minutes, the male subject wearing the grey t-shirt and jeans and the subject wearing the black rim glasses exited the plaza. Both suspects allegedly walked due south from the plaza entrance toward the rear of the parking lot. They then allegedly began walking east toward the side of the parking lot.

Yasmany J. Castillo

Once they reached the last aisle, continued the report, they turned toward a beige Ford Explorer. The subject with the black rim glasses entered the vehicle at the rear passenger seat location while the other subject entered the vehicle at the driver location. After about five minutes, stated the report, the third subject, who was wearing shorts, exited the service plaza and entered the beige Ford Explorer on the right front passenger side. All three subjects sat in the vehicle for allegedly three or four minutes.

Miguel Angel Vanegas Leon

Due to their bizarre behavior of loitering or prowling in the service plaza and continual observation of law enforcement’s movements throughout the service plaza, the decision was made to question the subjects. As the subjects exited the vehicle, a Husky tool pouch was purportedly observed with tools and a credit card skimmer inside. A subsequent search of the vehicle allegedly produced a laptop computer and a Bank of America debit card with the name of one of the subjects hidden in the back of the front passenger seat.

Rafael Telmo Gerardo Cortavitarte

All three subjects were taken into custody without incident. Miguel Angel Vanegas Leon, 35, of an unknown address in Miami; Rafael Telmo Gerardo Cortavitarte, 31, also of an unknown address in Miami; and Yasmany J. Castillo, 32, of 1061 E. 19th St., Hialeah, were arrested on felony charges possession of burglary tools, use of a scan device pay card to defraud, and receiving and selling credit card machine plates. No bond was set.

In an unrelated incident at the Fort Drum Service Plaza, on Feb. 21 at 1:57 a.m. Trooper K. Gutierrez was dispatched to the scene, along with Sergeant Donald Ellis of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO).

Juan Rivera

Trooper Guiterrez allegedly observed an unresponsive male in a blue Honda Accord. According to the report, the male was slumped over the steering wheel. Sgt. Ellis stated that the vehicle was still in drive with the keys in the ignition. The driver allegedly had his foot on the brake. Okeechobee Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and were able to get the male to wake up, and the man, later identified as Juan Rivera, was confused and could barely stand, according to the report.

Upon making contact with Dispatch and relaying information about Rivera, Trooper Gutierrez and Sgt. Ellis were informed that Rivera had multiple warrants, two of which are for vehicle theft. Dispatch also allegedly confirmed through Miami Dade Police Department that the Honda was stolen.

According to the report, a hand search of the vehicle revealed multiple small baggies with a white substance located on the front driver’s side floor, as well as on the driver’s seat. On top of the center console purportedly sat a small foil with a blue substance. In addition, on the passenger side seat, was a grey sunglass case containing two needles and a cracked glass pipe.

Based upon Trooper Gutierrez’s training and experience, he purportedly identified these items as being used for cocaine. As Fire and Rescue was evaluating Rivera, the trooper noticed Rivera had fresh puncture marks on his right arm and some blood. Rivera was transported to Raulerson Hospital.

Sgt. Ellis purportedly followed the ambulance to the hospital while Trooper Gutierrez stayed to clear the scene.

After towing the vehicle, Trooper Gutierrez went to Raulerson Hospital and allegedly asked Rivera to provide a blood sample. Rivera was then arrested on felony charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle and possession of cocaine, as well as misdemeanor charges of DUI alcohol or drugs, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, and five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. No bond was set.

OKEECHOBEE — Assistant state attorney Ashley Albright has filed the necessary paperwork to seek the death penalty for a 21-year-old Okeechobee man accused of killing a local mother of four.

Christopher William Shows, 21

Assistant state attorney Don Richardson filed paperwork Tuesday, Feb. 21, indicating the state intends to seek the death penalty for Christopher William Shows.

Mr. Albright and Mr. Richardson will be prosecuting this case together.

Shows was arrested Dec. 16, 2016, and charged with the Dec. 12 slaying of Amanda Gayle Suarez in her N.W. Third Street home. Her husband, Mathew, was at work and three of the couple’s four children were in school.

Mrs. Suarez was 25 years old when she was allegedly gunned down by Shows.

Shows, who was a pall bearer at the woman’s funeral, was known to the family because he was dating a cousin to Mrs. Suarez.

After he had entered the home, Shows allegedly began making sexual advances toward the woman but she continually rebuffed him. The young man left the home and walked to his truck where he had a .22 caliber rifle, notes arrest reports.

Shows then entered the home again and when Mrs. Suarez tried to run he reportedly shot her once in the back of the head.

According to arrest reports, Shows then dragged the woman’s lifeless body into the kitchen where he posed her in a crucifix position. He then had sex with the body, continue those reports.

Mr. Albright said Thursday, Feb. 23, he met with State Attorney Bruce Colton and received the go-ahead to seek the death penalty. This will be Mr. Albright’s fifth death penalty case and Mr. Richardson’s first.

He also explained how the state and federal supreme courts had been battling over Florida’s death penalty statute.

A few months ago the Florida Supreme Court overturned the state’s death statute that only required a majority vote from the jury. Then, the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in and said that was unconstitutional. That court then ruled the jury had to agree to put a defendant to death by a 10-2 vote.

Then Monday, Feb. 20, the state supreme court ruled a jury could recommend the death penalty if it was a unanimous 12-0 vote.

The final decision to put a defendant to death rests with the trial judge.

“They’ve always had the ability to do that,” pointed out Mr. Albright.

He went on to explain that Shows will first have to be convicted of the charges on which he was indicted Feb. 14 by an Okeechobee County grand jury. He was indicted on charges of first degree murder with a firearm, burglary of a dwelling with an assault or battery while armed, abuse of a dead human body, petit theft and tampering with evidence.

If Shows is convicted, the jury will then deliberate on whether or not to recommend the death penalty. But, before they do that, the state will present aggravators to bolster its case while defense attorney Stanley Glen will offer up mitigators against that penalty.

While this is a different step in the trial process, Mr. Albright said jury selection in this type of case is also different because some jurors may be against putting someone to death by lethal injection.

When questioning prospective jurors, he said he will ask “death qualifier” questions which will allow him to choose those who “… would vote for the death penalty under appropriate circumstances.

“We ask specific questions,” he added.

But jury selection is a long way off, and a trial date has yet to be slated.

OKEECHOBEE — An unidentified woman apparently died early Monday morning as a result of a single car accident on S.E. 40th Avenue at the CSX railroad tracks.

Since there was a fatality involved, the accident was turned over to the Florida Highway Patrol. When contacted, FHP Trooper Sergeant Mark Wysocky said the victim’s name could not be released because they were still trying to positively identify the female victim.

An Okeechobee County Fire/Rescue (OCF/R) report indicated that agency was notified of a small brush fire in the area around 4:21 a.m. on Feb. 26.

When firefighters responded they “… found a vehicle near the tracks burning with some grass and brush burning around it,” stated a report by Lieutenant Matthew Vinson, an OCF/R firefighter/paramedic.

After the fire was extinguished, firefighters began documenting damages to the vehicle when they noticed a body in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The vehicle was identified as a 2001 Dodge.

Because of their finding, firefighters contacted the sheriff’s office and the FHP.

“(A) secondary search was completed around the scene with no additional patients found,” stated Lt. Vinson’s report.

OCF/R personnel remained on scene to assist FHP investigators on removing the body from the vehicle.

OCF/R Lieutenant Ryan Hathaway said Tuesday afternoon that his agency also could not positively identify the victim.

According to Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) dispatcher notes it appeared as if the vehicle jumped the train tracks. Those notes go on to state the train tracks appeared “… to have been pushed about a foot.”

All train traffic was halted until the rails were repaired.

Lt. Vinson’s report pointed out that OCF/R personnel arrived on scene at 4:34 a.m. and had the fire under control by 4:40 a.m. The last OCF/R unit cleared the scene at 7:15 a.m.

Estimated damage to the vehicle was set at $10,000.

The cause of the accident, as well as the subsequent blaze, is still under investigation.

Sgt. Wysocky did not give any indication as to when the victim’s identity would be released.

OKEECHOBEE — A former resident was arrested Tuesday by a local detective and will be returned to Okeechobee County where he is accused of sexually molesting a 6-year-old girl.

Detective Bill Saum, of the Okeechobee City Police Department (OCPD), said he traveled to St. Johns County on Feb. 28 where he arrested Emilio Anselmo Madrigal on one felony count of sexual battery – victim under the age of 12.

Emilio Anselmo Madrigal

Madrigal is currently being held without bond in the St. Johns County Jail and will remain there until he is returned to Okeechobee County.

According to Detective Saum the alleged molestation occurred in Okeechobee in late December of 2016. Madrigal is currently living in Hastings, which is located 18 miles northeast of St. Augustine.

The OCPD investigator said he traveled to St. Johns County where he met up with Detective Andrew Huskey, from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the two of them went to Hastings to interview Madrigal.

Once the hour-long interview was completed, Detective Saum arrested the former owner of Madrigal Harvesting on an Okeechobee County warrant signed by Circuit Court Judge Dan Vaughn. Madrigal is currently a supervisor of field personnel, noted the OCPD detective.

Apparently the victim told her parents what happened, and they then contacted the OCPD.

“It’s important for parents to have a conversation with their children that no one is to touch their private areas other than trained medical professionals,” said Detective Saum. “That’s what happened in this case. The parents had had that conversation with their child.”

The victim in this case was not physically injured, noted the detective.

Detective Saum did not know when Madrigal would be returned to Okeechobee County.

OKEECHOBEE — Richelle Garcia and her friends traveled from Tennessee for the 2017 Okeechobee Music Festival planning for a weekend of fun. They found disappointment instead when they learned the tickets they had purchased were fakes.

Richelle said she obtained the tickets from someone she found on the website Craigslist. The seller claimed to be selling extra tickets to the sold-out music festival.

On Friday, Richelle and her friends stayed close to the box office on N.E. 128th St. hoping to find someone who had extra authentic tickets.

They reported the fraud to the festival officials who not only determined a real ticket had been copied to make the fakes, changing one serial number to make them appear authentic. Richelle said the festival officials had also determined that person had already checked into the festival, but that as soon as the armband was scanned to enter any of the concerts, the person would be ejected from OMF.

She said they also plan to contact law enforcement.

Festival fan scammed.

OKEECHOBEE — After one day of the Okeechobee Music Fest, nine people were booked into the Okeechobee County Jail on felony drug charges.

That number pales when compared to the 2016 OMF when 26 people were arrested on felony drug charges on the event’s opening night.

This year’s festival began Thursday, March 2, and will end Sunday, March 5. Event organizers said over 36,000 tickets have been sold, and the festival has been sold out. Last year, OMF drew 30,000.

In all, over 60 felony drug arrests were made at OMF2016. However, 40 of those had to be dropped by prosecutors.

Assistant state attorney Ashley Albright said those cases had to be dropped because they weren’t based on probable cause.

“The cases I cannot prosecute are all administrative-type searches done at the entry point by law enforcement at the request of event organizers,” said the prosecutor following the 2016 festival. “But, because the searches were done as administrative searches they cannot be prosecuted.”

So this year, things are being done differently.

For instance, when revelers enter the music fest signs clearly warn them that narcotic K-9s are being used. Then, after passing that sign, festival-goers will have to go by a container that is clearly marked “amnesty box.” Next to that sign is a marked and padlocked trash can where people can dispose of contraband with no questions asked. This area is not manned by law enforcement, although it is checked periodically.

Beyond these areas are K-9 teams that are working the vehicles as they wait in line to enter the festival. The drug-sniffing K-9s walk past the stopped vehicles and if the dog ‘alerts’ to a vehicle, then that vehicle is escorted to another area where it is searched.

Which is what happened to the nine who were arrested Thursday.

Those arrested and their charges were:

• Maurice Cole Burnham, 21, S.W. Dekle Road, Lake City. He was charged with the felonies of possession of a controlled substance (MDMA) and possession of marijuana resin. He was also charged with the misdemeanor of possession of marijuana under 20 grams. His bond was set at $11,000.

• Alexander Phillip Demetriou, 27, Georginia Ave., Ypsilanti, Mich. He was charged with the felonies of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana resin), possession of marijuana over 20 grams and trafficking in cocaine. He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $27,000.

• Barrick Christian Frazier 33, Beaver Road, Bluff City, Tenn. He was arrested on a felony charge of possession of marijuana over 20 grams, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,000.

• Khristopher Harper, 24, S.W. Logan Lane, Lake City. He was charged with the felonies of possession of a controlled substance (MDMA) and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana resin). He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana under 20 grams. His bond was set at $11,000.

• Jalen Denzel Lockhart, 24, Peach Tree Road N.E., Atlanta. He was charged with the felonies of possession of a controlled substance (MDMA) and trafficking in cocaine. He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $21,000.

• Daniel Joseph Long, 19, N.W. 16th St., Margate. He was arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance (MDMA), possession of a controlled substance (LSD) and possession of marijuana over 20 grams. He was also charged with the misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $16,000.

• Kenneth Thomas Lyons, 24, Cliff Landings, La Grange, Ill. He was arrested on felony charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, trafficking in cocaine, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana resin) and possession of marijuana over 20 grams. He was also charged with the misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $27,000.

• Sarah Marie Tate, 22, Sugar Loaf Club Drive, Duluth, Ga. She was arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance (MDMA) and trafficking in cocaine. She was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $21,000.

• Jared Chase Zim, 20, was arrested on a felony charge of possession of marijuana over 20 grams and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $5,500.

An arrest report by Deputy Kristin Gray, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), stated that when she searched the vehicle occupied by Demetriou and Lyons she and her K-9 Remi found: 3.95 ounces of suspected powder cocaine; 4.90 pounds of suspected marijuana; 2.63 pounds of suspected marijuana resin; scales; and, over 100 small plastic baggies.

As for Lockhart and Tate, OCSO Deputy Jessica Henderson stated in her report 88 grams of suspected cocaine and 35 grams of suspected MDMA were found in their 2004 Lexus.

All of the arrest reports pointed out that all of the seized drugs were tested and those tests all indicated positive results for the presence of illegal narcotics.

OKEECHOBEE — It was a tale of two Okeechobee Music Fests: First, there was great music and a lot of young people having fun. Next: 17 festival-goers were arrested and jailed on felony drug charges.

Still, that number of arrests pales in comparison to the 2016 event where over 60 people were arrested. Of those arrests, more than 40 cases were eventually dropped by the state.

It is also just a tiny fraction — less than .05 percent — of the 36,000 fans who attended the sold-out 2017 OMF.

Two reasons why the cases made by law enforcement this year will stick is because revelers were actually given chances to either turn around and leave, or drop their drugs into sealed garbage cans known as amnesty boxes with no questions asked.

Just how much was left in those garbage cans is still being calculated.

“I’ll have more information later in the week regarding the amnesty boxes, drugs seized, amounts etc.,” stated Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) public information officer Michele Bell in an email sent out Monday, March 6.

Assistant state attorney Ashley Albright said another reason why his office will have better cases to prosecute this year is that law enforcement did not stop or seize any vehicles for searches by K-9s.

“They (law enforcement) simply walked their dogs around the cars while they were waiting to get into the festival. We didn’t stop them,” explained the prosecutor, adding if the K-9s alerted to a vehicle then it was searched.

He went on to say the sheriff’s office “used a great deal of discretion” in the number of arrests made. Part of that discretion was used by deputies when they spoke with young people who were wanting to enter the festival.

“If they said they had drugs on them and showed law enforcement where the drugs were, the drugs were confiscated and they could go into the festival. But, if they lied about it or had a large amount they were arrested,” said Mr. Albright.

Nine people were arrested on drug charges during the opening 24 hours of this year’s festival and another eight were taken to the Okeechobee County Jail in the remaining three days.

• Dylan Wyatt Delgado, 23, Fort Lauderdale. He was charged with the felonies of trafficking in MDMA and trafficking in cocaine. His bond was set at $60,000.

• Wilson Hernandez, 38, Miami. He was arrested on felony charges of possession of marijuana over 20 grams and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $6,000.

• Clayton Craig Hillyard, 24, Johns Creek, Ga. He was arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). His bond was set at $40,000.

• Steven Michael Hoffman, 21, Gainesville. He was arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance (MDMA), possession of a controlled substance (LSD) and possession of a controlled substance (cocaine). He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana under 20 grams. His bond was set at $16,000.]

• Kevin Kovacs, 27, Brunswick, Ohio. He was arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and possession of marijuana resin. His bond was set at $7,000.

• Alyssa Renee Sanchez, 23, Bradenton. She was arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $6,000.

• Thomas James Sullivan, 51, Indian Rocks Beach. He was arrested on felony charges of possession of marijuana over 20 grams and possession of a controlled substance (anabolic steroids). He was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $6,000.

• Zachary Zegers, 24, East Kaley Ave., Orlando. He was arrested on felony charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $6,000.

Mr. Albright said despite law enforcement’s best efforts, when nearly 40,000 people are entering an area not everyone will be checked.

When asked if he was taken aback at some of the amounts of drugs seized, the prosecutor said: “I can’t say I was surprised. But, I will say, I saw more drugs this weekend than I’ve seen in a long time.”

OKEECHOBEE — While young people enjoyed the 2017 Music Fest last weekend, law enforcement personnel didn’t have time to take in a show.

During the four-day event, 21 people were arrested and 19 of those were on felony drug charges. But, in many instances, members of law enforcement exercised discretion — meaning, if someone was honest with them and handed over their illegal drugs then those people weren’t arrested.

A large quantity of drugs were dropped in the amnesty boxes at the festival entrance or voluntarily turned over to law enforcement officers.

A large amount of drugs and paraphernalia were discarded in amnesty boxes placed outside of the venue.

Following is a list of the drugs and drug paraphernalia that was either found in the amnesty boxes or was turned over to law enforcement. Michele Bell, public information officer for the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), said some of the drugs were voluntarily turned over to law enforcement.

All of the items listed below are independent of any drugs and paraphernalia seized during an arrest.
• 6 pounds of hydroponic marijuana;
• 150 hits of LSD;
• 50 capsules of molly;
• 150 drug paraphernalia items (pipes, bongs, marijuana grinders, etc.);
• 1 ounce of marijuana resin;
• 200 pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes;
• 30 LSD dip cigarettes;
• 2 pounds of edible marijuana cookies, brownies, etc.;
• 14 grams of cocaine;
• 12 grams of methamphetamine;
• 100 hits of ecstasy;
• 26 marijuana candies (such as gummy bears, etc.);
• 10 grams of liquid LSD;
• 10 grams of powder molly;
• five sets of digital scales;
• 1 1/2 ounces of mushrooms;
• 57 nitrous oxide whippets; and,
• various prescription medications such as xanax and oxycodone.

While he welcomed everyone to Okeechobee for the festival, Sheriff Noel Stephen said law enforcement still had a job to do and they did it very well.

“We welcome anyone that travels to Okeechobee for the Music Fest and we encourage them to enjoy the festival. However, we will do all we can to eliminate as many drugs coming into Okeechobee County as possible,” said the sheriff. “With the help of assisting agencies, the weekend searches resulted in a large amount of narcotics being taken off the street.”

He went on to thank the other agencies that pitched in to help his agency, such as: the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office; the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office; the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and, the Okeechobee City Police Department.

OKEECHOBEE — Over 300 pounds of suspected marijuana plants were seized and two men were arrested Thursday as detectives raided a suspected marijuana grow house.

At 1 p.m. detectives from the Okeechobee Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant March 9 on a greenhouse located at 530 N.E. 342nd Trail.

Adain Samuell Lago, 35

Inside that structure, which was located about 75 feet from the main house, the detectives allegedly found 189 suspected pot plants.

All of the plants had active root systems and were in buckets and planters, stated an arrest report.

Arrested in connection with the alleged grow house were: Adain Samuell Lago, 35, W. Some Road, Fort Myers; and Luis M. Yero, 59, S.W. 106th Court, Miami.

Lago was charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, ownership/lease/rental/or possession of property for trafficking in or manufacturing of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Luis M. Yero, 59

Yero was charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lago’s bond was set at $230,000, while Yero’s bond was set at $105,000.

Both men are being held on bond in the Okeechobee County Jail.

According to the arrest report as detectives approached the suspected grow house “… a strong smell of marijuana was present and AC (air conditioning) units could be heard.”

The detective’s report also pointed out that the plants had a total weight of 304 pounds.

Detectives also received a search warrant for the house, where they reportedly found ballasts and lighting hoods similar to the those found in the purported grow house.

During a search of the home, detectives found some black plastic bags in a closet in the main bedroom. Inside those bags were 21 “vacuumed-sealed plastic bags with marijuana inside,” continued the report. The suspected pot in those bags was apparently packaged for resale. The total weight of this suspected pot was 11.6 pounds.

Detectives also seized about $2,000 in cash when they stopped vehicles driven by Lago and Yero in the 1600 block of S.R. 70 West on Thursday morning.

Deputy Kristin Gray, from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), and her K-9, Remi, were called to the scene and according to her report Remi alerted to a vehicle being driven by Lago and a second SUV driven by Yero.

Although no drugs were found when those vehicles were searched, deputies did find the cash as well as black latex gloves, PVC pipes, copper tubing, a 1000-watt light bulb and business cards from grow distributors, Deputy Gray pointed out.

Task force detectives soon arrived on scene and they took over the investigation.

MOORE HAVEN — Apparently having a new president has been good for the correctional facility in Glades County.

Just two years ago the Glades County facility was faced with shutting its doors because it wasn’t receiving enough federal prisoners to pay the bills. In fact, then-sheriff Stuart Whiddon said he needed at least 400 Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) prisoners to pay the bills. But, as of April of 2014, he was only receiving roughly 200 federal prisoners.

Because of that, Sheriff Whiddon was expecting to lay off 100 employees and move inmates into the old Glades County Jail.

But, along came Donald J. Trump. When he became the nation’s 45th president things started looking up for now-sheriff David Hardin and the Glades County facility.

“According to ICE and Homeland Security, they were given orders not to pick up anyone. President Trump rescinded that order and put people back to work. What that means, they are picking up more illegal aliens,” explained Sheriff Hardin.

As of March 9, Sheriff Hardin said he was housing a total of 452 inmates in his correctional facility. He said 37 of those were county inmates, 19 were U.S. Marshals inmates and 396 were from ICE.

“I’m happy with the progress,” offered the sheriff.

Those numbers mean his facility is now in the black. In fact, the newly-elected Glades County sheriff said things are doing so well that last month his bill to ICE was just shy of $1 million.

“It really looks good,” said the sheriff. “Our magic number is 325. We’re paying our bills at 325.”

The federal prisoners being held in Glades County come from the Krome Processing, Service and Detention Center in Miami. The sheriff said he gets the overflow from Krome. If the prisoner has a court date they go back to Krome and are returned to Moore Haven when they are finished in that court.

Things are looking so good, Sheriff Hardin said ICE is asking him to hire more people. So, he is starting to look at expanding his facility.

“We have roughly 107 corrections offers and have been interviewing and hiring,” the sheriff noted. “When the new annex comes on line we will hire 14 additional corrections officers, and they will have to be all female because it (the annex) will be for female prisoners only.”

Once all of the expansion is completed, Sheriff Hardin said the facility could hold a total of 630 prisoners.

Currently, the Glades facility is receiving just over $80 per day, per federal inmate. Per their agreement with the federal government, this means the county has to charge that same amount for each county inmate.

“But, there may be some changes coming in that area,” he added.

And since business is so good, ICE is now asking the sheriff to hire more people.

Sheriff Hardin explained that local corrections officers take care of the illegal aliens as well as the county inmates. Federal employees, he added, take care of the paper work so he is required to have “… x-amount of ICE people to take care of that.”

There are three similar facilities as the Glades jail — Baker, Monroe and Wakulla counties — that handle federal prisoners in Florida.