OCALA, Fla. – A 19-year-old man from Anthony, Lebron Mondale Jones, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, and one count of attempt second-degree murder in connection with the shooting that took place on January 1, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to four others. The shooting occurred during a block party on Southwest Fifth Street. Jones is currently being held without bail and has other pending criminal charges against him.
The State Attorney’s Office has announced that prosecutors have officially signaled their intention to move forward with the case, with a pre-trial conference set for early 2024. The investigation is ongoing, with detectives expressing confidence that there was more than one shooter involved in the incident.
In a separate development, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida revealed that they have prosecuted more than 1,500 people as part of Project Safe Neighborhood, an initiative aimed at protecting children from abuse and sex exploitation. The initiative, which was launched in 2006, has seen significant success in bringing offenders to justice.
Among those arrested was Eddie Joe Oglesby, who has been sentenced to 80 years in federal prison on charges of producing and receiving child sex abuse materials. Oglesby, a 53-year-old man from Fort McCoy, was found to have pretended to be a federal agent to coerce girls into producing and sending him sexual images over the internet. When they refused, he threatened them with arrest, jail, or death. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The efforts of both the State Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office highlight the commitment of law enforcement officials and prosecutors to standing by victims and holding offenders accountable for their actions. The cases serve as a reminder of the continued need for vigilance and cooperation in combating crimes against children. Any information about these cases should be reported to the relevant authorities.