Latest news with #TheNews-Press
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Lehigh Acres man gets two life sentences for violating injunction, murdering woman
A Lehigh Acres man who faced capital murder charges after a grand jury indicted him nearly five years ago reached a plea deal last week, avoiding a potential death sentence. Ja'Quan Robinson, 28, on June 23 pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary with assault or battery and violating an injunction for protection against domestic violence. Lee Circuit Judge Robert Branning handed Robinson two life sentences. Fatal crash arrest: Estero man arrested for DUI manslaughter after rear-ending car at high speed, killing one In October 2020, Robinson snuck into the Fort Myers home of a victim police said he knew and hid, waiting for her. He then came out of hiding and killed her, beating her to death. Authorities said Robinson also violated an order of protection in going near her. Her identity remains redacted in court documents. When Fort Myers Police officers arrived during the wee hours Oct. 14, 2020, they met with the complainant, who reported stated that her current boyfriend, Robinson, was threating to harm her grandmother and throwing rocks at their windows. The witness did not see Robinson throwing rocks or see him on their property, but believed it was him, according to his arrest affidavit. Officers canvassed the area but did not find Robinson. While officers documented the incident, the report states, a call requested the emergency response to an undisclosed location. The caller said she had spoken with her boyfriend at the time, Robinson, who "threatened to come to the residence and kill her grandparents." The caller also reported her aunt was screaming downstairs "like someone is hurting her." When officers kicked down a door at the home, they found a woman who lay face-down on the ground covered in blood. A responding officer saw a man, later identified as Robinson, wearing a ski mask, a dark-colored long-sleeved shirt and dark-colored pants, who appeared to walk "very quickly." When officers stopped him, they reported he had dried blood on his left forearm, as well as dried blood on both hands and blood spots on his feet. The report stated the victim suffered lacerations to the chin and skull. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@ or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lehigh Acres man gets two life sentences for murder
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-Lee County sheriff's deputy sentenced to jail for firing into Lehigh Acres jewelry
A former Lee County sheriff's deputy will spend 6 months in jail after authorities last year linked him to a breach at a Lehigh Acres jewelry store. Lee Circuit Judge Andrew Marcus sentenced Michael Soto, 37, to 180 days in jail, followed by six years of state probation. Among the conditions of his sentence, he has to forfeit his firearm to the sheriff's office and sign up for anger management, as well as substance abuse and mental health evaluations within 30 days of his release. Marcus also ordered that Soto not possess drugs or alcohol with random screens and stay away from the location of the offense. Animal cruelty arrest: Fort Myers woman faces animal cruelty charges after authorities find 13 neglected puppies Soto faced one count of discharging a firearm in public from a vehicle within 1,000 feet from a person and one count of shooting into an unoccupied building. Court records show that on June 6 he reached a plea agreement with state prosecutors. According to his 10-page arrest affidavit, shortly before 2 a.m. June 30, 2024, the sheriff's office was alerted of an alarm that went off at Gold Forever Jewelry, 904 Lee Blvd., in Lehigh Acres. When sheriff's deputies arrived at the business, the report says, they found a shattered front glass door. The affidavit says a representative for the establishment provided authorities with security footage. The heavily redacted report indicates that through the footage authorities linked Soto to a Ford F-150 pickup on scene. When sheriff's deputies took him into custody, documents say, Soto refused to speak without a lawyer present. According to documents provided by the sheriff's office, Soto began his employment as a sheriff's deputy in Lee County in May 2018. He was one of three Lee County sheriff's deputies arrested in two weeks on varying charges. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@ or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Ex-Lee County sheriff's deputy gets jail for shooting into jewelry
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teen arrested on manslaughter charge in Lely shooting death of 15-year-old
A 13-year-old faces charges in the shooting death of a 15-year-old over Memorial Day weekend. Just before 1:15 a.m. May 26, Collier County sheriff's deputies responded to Whistler's Cove Circle, in Lely, to reports of a shooting. The sheriff's office said the victim, 15-year-old Christian Chavez, died from a gunshot wound to the head. Death row inmate passes: Death row inmate dies nearly 3 decades after Naples Cracker Barrel slayings Authorities detained Irving Adrian Jimenez Lopez, 13, on a manslaughter charge. The sheriff's office says they believe the shooting was accidental. Jimenez Lopez's next court appearance was not available by publication. Jamie Mosbach, spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said he remained in juvenile detention following his arrest. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@ or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Teenager arrested in Lely shooting death of 15-year-old
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fatal shooting of teen: Witness heard gunshot near Collier County apartment pool area
Reports of a gunshot in the pool area of a Lely apartment complex in Collier County and a confession to playing with a loaded firearm led a 13-year-old to face charges in the shooting death of a 15-year-old over Memorial Day weekend. Irving Adrian Jimenez Lopez, 13, faces one count of manslaughter in the shooting death of 15-year-old Christian Chavez. Just before 1:15 a.m. on May 26, Collier County sheriff's deputies responded to Whistler's Cove Apartments to reports of a shooting. The sheriff's office said Chavez died from a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities found Chavez slumped over in a lounge chair, according to an incident report. Death row inmate passes: Death row inmate dies nearly 3 decades after Naples Cracker Barrel slayings Next to Chavez, authorities said they found a handgun with a dark gray camouflage-style wrap. Authorities later responded to a home on Mitchell Street, in Naples, where they detained Jimenez Lopez on a manslaughter charge. The report noted that sheriff's officials detained a second minor, whose identity remained redacted in the report. During a pat-down search on the second minor, authorities said they found a loaded handgun with two live rounds in the magazine. The report stated Jimenez Lopez did not have a weapon on him. According to the report, Jimenez Lopez did not want his parents present while authorities questioned him. The sheriff's office said it believes the shooting was accidental. During a 911 call, a witness said he was smoking a cigarette when he heard a gunshot coming from the pool area at the apartment complex. "He was running around like crazy," the witness said when he looked toward the pool area. "He dropped some stuff, picked it up, slipped over the stairs, fell and took off running." The witness said the teenager then ran toward a nearby playground. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@ or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Minors played with loaded gun in Florida when teenager was killed
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cape Coral Police said attempted kidnapping probe revealed minor provided partial story
Nearly a week after Cape Coral Police began to investigate a reported attempted kidnapping — which happened an hour before a separate North Fort Myers suspicious incident, authorities say conversations with the minor and his family "may not have accurately reflected all of the facts of the incident." Authorities said a juvenile reported he left his home around 7:30 a.m. to ride his bicycle to his bus stop. The juvenile said he sat down at the bench at the intersection of Northeast 41st Street and Andalusia Boulevard when a black SUV driving south on Andalusia pulled up next to him with two men inside. According to initial reports, one of the men lunged at the child, who said he then got on his bicycle and rode back home. Fatal stabbing fate: Pair sentenced to life for Fort Myers fatal nightclub stabbing Authorities said the boy described the men as white or Hispanic and around 30 years old. The minor said the driver was wearing a graphic T-shirt and the passenger was wearing a puffy black jacket and ripped jeans. They were in a black SUV with possible front-end damage. According to police, its Violent Crimes Unit began to investigate that morning. Police on May 12 stated they believe an incident occurred, but not an attempted abduction. According to police, their conversations with the child's family led them to believe the child may have ridden his bicycle in the path of a vehicle, and the driver may have confronted the child for doing that. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@ or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral Police rule out attempted kidnapping in May 7 probe
