๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, into law on Tuesday morning. The law establishes a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for defendants convicted of killing a law enforcement officer in the State of Florida.
In 2021, Raynor made the ultimate sacrifice. The Daytona Beach Police Officer was shot in the line of duty and later died from his injuries.
Our office charged the defendant, Othal Wallace, with First-Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer, for which he could be sentenced to death. However, in 2023, a Clay County jury found him guilty of the lesser charge of Manslaughter. Wallace was then sentenced to 30 years in prison, the maximum he could receive for the conviction.
The new law serves as a lasting tribute to Officer Raynor and strengthens protections for law enforcement officers. It ensures that defendants who attack, injure, or kill officers face the toughest penalties available under Florida law.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza and members of our executive team have spent the past three years advocating for the Officer Jason Raynor Act in Tallahassee, with support from Florida Senator Tom Leek and Representative Jessica Baker.
We were proud to attend the bill signing in Polk County alongside Officer Raynorโs family and our partners at the Daytona Beach Police Department.
โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ค๐งโ๐จ ๐ข๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐จ,โ State Attorney Larizza said after the bill was signed. โ๐๐๐๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ค๐ง๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ค๐ง.โ
The ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ ๐ค๐ข๐๐ค ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ is impacting communities across the 7th Judicial Circuit.
It is ๐๐๐ a harmless prank. The consequences are real: criminal chargesโor worse.
Parents, have the conversation. Make sure your children understand the serious risks of taking part in this illegal and dangerous โchallenge.โ
State Attorney R.J. Larizza honored the legacy of the four former State Attorneys who served Floridaโs Seventh Judicial Circuit by hanging their portraits at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.
We welcomed former State Attorneys John Tanner (1989-1992, 1997-2008) and Steve Alexander (1993-1996), as well as the families of former State Attorneys Dan Warren (1962-1968) and Stephen Boyles (1969-1988), to our office on Friday to unveil the portraits. Also in attendance were several Seventh Judicial Circuit Judges, along with other local and state leaders.
"๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ช๐ฃ๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ก ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐จ๐ ๐จ๐๐ค๐๐จ... ๐๐ช๐ง ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐จ๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ. ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก. ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ ... ๐ฝ๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐," Larizza said during the portrait dedication ceremony. "๐'๐ข ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐. ๐'๐ข ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ฎ๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐'๐ข ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ง๐๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐๐ง๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐."
ICYMI: Our office assisted @TeamSJSO in the arrest of 36 offenders during dual operations in September, which targeted those who use the internet to prey on children and registered sexual offenders/predators who are not in compliance with statutory guidelines.
"๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐จ. ๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ช๐จ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ," Chief Assistant State Attorney John Reid said at a press conference on Monday. "๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค๐ข๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐ฃ๐๐ฎ'๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐จ๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ช๐๐ก๐จ. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก'๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐ฉ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐'๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ."
More Information: https://t.co/e0vq3kz3qi
State Attorney R.J. Larizza met with @volusiaschools principals at their workshop this week. He enjoyed the opportunity to share about our latest "Safety First, Success Always" initiative efforts.
Larizza and our office also want to congratulate @SuptBalgobinVCS on being named ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ by the National Association of School Superintendents! What a tremendous, well-deserved accomplishment!
We are extremely proud of our partnership with Dr. Balgobin and the three other exceptional superintendents who lead @FlaglerSchools, @PutnamSchoolsFL and @SJCSD. These close working relationships formed through our initiative are invaluable to our top priority: keeping our communities in the Seventh Circuit safe.
Parents, listen up!
If you don't want to cash out for a fake threat, talk to your children about the gravity of making threats and the importance of responsible online and interpersonal behavior.
Before the new school year, State Attorney R.J. Larizza offers more tips to you in this "Safety First, Success Always", ๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ public service announcement focused on restitution.
As always, our office was thrilled to attend #NationalNightOut events throughout the circuit on Tuesday. Even with the rain, there was a great turnout of families in both Daytona Beach and Palatka.
We had a blast meeting you all!
Thank you to @DaytonaBchPD and @PalatkaPD for holding such incredible events.
There will be more National Night Out events in October, so be on the lookout for one coming to your city!
Even if you're a juvenile, Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge Joan Anthony says your words could put you in handcuffs.
This upcoming school year, do not say, write, post or message a fake threat.
To hear more from Judge Anthony, watch ๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ, a "Safety First, Success Always" public service announcement: https://t.co/HmKwF0V6wV
It's NOT a joke.
Written or Electronic Threats to Kill is a Second-Degree Felony in Florida, which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine in adult criminal court.
Before the new school year, learn why your words matter by watching ๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ, a "Safety First, Success Always" public service announcement: https://t.co/HmKwF0UyHn
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
Twenty-eight members of the Mongols motorcycle gang were taken into custody today in a joint operation between the Volusia Sheriffโs Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorneyโs Office. In addition, arrest warrants have been issued for three additional Mongols gang members and their arrests are pending.
The following individuals have been charged with Aggravated Rioting related to the gas station shooting that occurred in New Smyrna Beach during Bike Week on March 8, 2025.
1. Tyler Maxamillian Araya
2. Max Martin Bastuardo
3. Gary Robert Bedsaul (Arrest still pending)
4. John Paul Bertrand
5. Christopher Allen Boyd
6. Peri John Butler
7. Pablo Jorge Cardoza Baptista
8. Jarrad Bryce Cawley
9. Francis G. Gomez
10. Daniel Hernandez
11. Sean Jeffery Hoholik
12. Trevor Frank Kopp (Arrest still pending)
13. Kevin Koul
14. Matthew David Limperatos
15. Daniel William Macumber
16. Robert Brandon Maness
17. Shawn Anthony Marshall
18. Steve Patino-Rangel
19. Justin Ballard Perry
20. Chadwick Lee Price
21. Michael Angel Rodriguez
22. Mario Silvestri (Arrest still pending)
23. Spencer Ryan Skipworth
24. Timothy Adam Stephens
25. Joseph Harry James Summerhill
26. Anthony Christopher Trimboli
27. Jacob Rolando Velez
28. Clinton Neal Walker (Previously arrested and charged related to this shooting)
29. Douglas Ray White
30. Kash Williams
31. Gaige Alexander Wilson
Aggravated Rioting (Florida Statute 870.01 3) is when a person participates in a riot of 25 or more other people. It is a Second-Degree Felony and punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
There were also 14 search warrants executed this morning, including at the Mongols Clubhouse in Edgewater, four homes in Volusia County, three homes in Brevard County, two homes in Miami-Dade County, one home in Chesterfield County, VA, one home in Palm Beach County, and two homes in Polk County.
This joint operation was carried out by the Volusia County Sheriffโs Office, FBI Jacksonville, FBI Tampa, FBI Miami, FBI Richmond, FBI Newark, FBI Columbia, FBI Charlotte, with assistance from the State Attorneyโs Office for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, U.S. Attorneyโs Office for the Middle District of Florida, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S Marshals, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the sheriffโs offices of Brevard, Broward, Collier, Escambia, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, and the police departments of Boca Raton, DeLand, Lakeland, New Smyrna Beach, Palm Bay, Orange City, Orlando, Rockledge and Titusville.
The investigation is ongoing and other charges could be added.
RT @SAO7FL: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: State Attorney R.J. Larizza shared a powerful message at the Volusia-Flagler Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremonyโฆ
State Attorney R.J. Larizza was proud to take the mic as the keynote speaker at this year's law enforcement memorial service at Daytona Memorial Park. @GovRonDeSantis also joined us this morning to help honor the 39 law enforcement officers and K9s from Volusia and Flagler Counties who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Every year, our office takes this opportunity to stand united with our community to remember the fallen officers and give support to the loved ones they have left behind.
"๐๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ช๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ง ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ค๐ ๐ช๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ [๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐จ] ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข," Larizza said during his address. "๐๐๐ฎ๐๐, ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐๐, ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ก๐."
It's #NationalPoliceWeek and Peace Officers Memorial Day.
The Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza thanks those serving and protecting our communities in the 7th Judicial Circuit. We also stand alongside our partner agencies to honor and remember the law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
After a week and a half resentencing hearing, a Volusia County jury voted in favor of the death penalty on all counts for Troy Victorino and Jerone Hunter for the deadliest mass murder in Volusia County history.
Victorino and Hunter, now 48 and 38, were convicted and originally sentenced to death in 2006 for breaking into a Deltona home, stabbing and beating six people and a dog to death with baseball bats in 2004. Their two co-defendants, Michael Salas and Robert Cannon, were sentenced to life in prison.
While Victorino and Hunterโs convictions stood, their death sentences were nullified in 2018 after Florida Courts began requiring unanimous jury recommendations in death penalty cases.
On April 20, 2023, a jury was seated for the resentencing of the defendants. However, on the very same day, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill authorizing a new non-unanimous sentencing standard of 8-4 in capital cases, which caused a mistrial.
Last month, a new jury was seated for this resentencing and proceeded under the new law.
Although the jury makes this recommendation, the final sentencing decision will be up to the judge. The Honorable Dawn Nichols will pronounce sentence after another hearing at a later date.
โ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐ค๐จ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐จ,โ State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case.
Assistant State Attorneys Heatha Trigones and Andrew Urbanak successfully argued for the death penalty for the state.
RT @SAO7FL: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
State Attorney R.J. Larizza led the launch of ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ in 2022 to addressโฆ
Parents, listen up!
Drugs are ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ than they used to be. Drugs are more ๐ฉ๐ค๐ญ๐๐ than they used to be. Drugs are more ๐ช๐ฃ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐ than they used to be.
To hear more from @CountyOfVolusia Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Fulcher, watch ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ , a "Safety First, Success Always" public service announcement: https://t.co/6IfDlOIaLz