Sample of Significant Felony Cases
State of Florida v. Juan Miguel Diaz (Lake County)
Murder in the First Degree Where Death Penalty Sought
Alleged Drug Kingpin/Hitman Murder
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
Judge: G. Richard Singeltary
State of Florida vs. Thomas Manos (Sumter County)
Murder in the First Degree Where Life Sentence Sought
Alleged Homeless Camp Murder
Verdict: Guilty of Misdemeanor Battery with a Sentence of Time Served
Judge: Hale Stancil
State of Florida vs. Joshua Walsh (Sumter County)
Second Degree Murder with a Firearm
Alleged Killing of Small Child With a Shotgun (Entire Trial Covered by CourtTV)
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
Judge: Hale Stancil
State of Florida vs. George Knupp, Lake County Sheriff (Lake County)
Perjury Before a Grand Jury
Alleged False Statements in State Attorney Investigation
Result: Indictment dismissed pursuant to negotiation
Judge: Mark Hill
State of Florida vs. Dante Hall (Lake County)
Murder in the First Degree Where Death Penalty Sought
Alleged Robbery and Machine Gun Homicide of 2 Individuals
PENDING FOR TRIAL
Judge: T. Michael Johnson
State of Florida vs. Jeffery Ferris (Lake County)
Murder in the First Degree Where Death Penalty Sought
Alleged Brutal Prison Stabbing at Lake Correctional Institution
PENDING FOR TRIAL
Judge: G. Richard Singeltary
State of Florida vs. Brian Weathers (Flagler County)
Murder in the First Degree Where Life Imprisonment Sought
Alleged Gun Murder by Combat Veteran
Verdict: NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY
Judge: Kim Hammond
State of Florida vs. Clinton Kemp (Lake county)
Aggravated Battery on the Elderly
Alleged Beating of Elderly Man at a Boat Dock with Compound Leg Fractures
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
Judge: Mark Hill
State of Florida vs. James Lacey (Lake County)
6 Counts of Lewd/Lascivious Battery and Molestation on Child Less than 16 years
Alleged Sexual Misconduct With Child on Multiple Occasions
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
Judge: T. Michael Johnson
State of Florida vs. Luis Marcelino Soto IV (Lake County)
Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a Child Under 16 and Burglary
Alleged Traveling Salesman Charged with Sexual Misconduct with a Child
Verdict: NOT GUILTY of Burglary or Lewd and Lascivious Battery and Guilty of a lesser misdemeanor offense of indecent exposure
Judge: T. Michael Johnson
State of Florida vs. Fred Williams (Lake County)
Multiple Counts of Sexual Battery, False Imprisonment, Lewd and Lascivious Act
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
Judge: Don Briggs
State of Florida vs. Shawn Saxon (Lake County)
Sexual Battery/Rape and False Imprisonment of Adult Female
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
Judge: G. Richard Singeltary
State of Florida vs. Timothy Rogers (Lake County)
Murder in the Second Degree
Alleged to Have Shot Girlfriend in Head
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
Judge: Jerry Lockett
State of Florida vs. William Pridgeon (Sumter County)
Aggravated Battery on a Police Officer
Alleged to have Run Over Police Office with his Truck
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
Judge: William Hallman
State of Florida vs. Eric Slisz
Multiple Counts of Aggravated Assault With a Firearm
Road Rage Threats Against 4 Ministers With a Firearm
Verdict: NOT GUILTY
Judge: G. Richard Singeltary
State of Florida vs. Robert Craig (Lake County)
Murder in the First Degree, Re-sentencing
After 16 years on death row, Mr. Craig had a new penalty phase jury and was sentenced to life instead of death.
Judge: William Swigert
