Three jailed for fighting  during Boater Skip Day

 GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Three St. Augustine men were arrested during Boater Skip Day for turning the festive event into a brawl in the St. Johns River, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Austin James Nadeau, 28, was charged with two counts of battery of a sheriff deputy, battery, disorderly conduct by fighting (affray) and disorderly intoxication after CCSO reported deputies had to enter the water to break up the fight.

According to one arrest report, two deputies were punched and pushed by Nadeau after he punched two other men. One of the victims was transported to Baptist Medical Center Clay for treatment.

Israel Joseph Zelasko, 20, was charged with resisting arrest with violence and disorderly conduct by fighting (affray), while Caleb Scott Allen, 23, was charged resisting arrest.

According to arrest reports, a fight broke out in the water at Mile Marker 24 at Bayard Point as the annual event was winding down.

Austin’s bond was set at $35,012; Zelasko’s bond was $1,004; and Allen was released on his own recognizance.

Teen shot at Orange Park  Athletic Association fields

 ORANGE PARK – A juvenile was shot in the leg at the Orange Park Athletic Association Tuesday afternoon and transported to HCA Florida Orange Park, the Orange Park Police Department reported.

While the boy was listed in serious condition, the injury is not believed to be life-threatening.

OPPD detectives remained on the scene at Gano Avenue and Fromhart Street after receiving a call for shots fired shortly after 1 p.m. The department said it believes it was an isolated event and there is no threat to the community.

During the investigation OPPD closed Gano Avenue from Grove Park Drive to Bay Circle East.

CCSO needs help identifying  remains found in St. Johns River

 FLEMING ISLAND – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office needs help identifying the human remains found May 7 on the bulkhead of the St. Johns River at Creighton Road and U.S. Highway 17, south of the Doctors Lake Bridge.

Although investigators have submitted DNA for testing, the agency is asking if anyone recognizes a partial leg tattoo on the victim. According to CCSO, the person had several leg tattoos.

Genealogy and DNA testing is time-consuming, and the sheriff’s office said DNA results may not provide the answers it needs, especially if the victim doesn’t have any DNA on file to match.

If you have any specific information, please send CCSO a SaferWatch tip. You could be eligible to receive a reward.

CCSO assists in child sex case  against St. Johns business owner

 JACKSONVILLE – U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Jack Dymond Leach, 43, of St. Augustine, with one count of attempted production of child sexual abuse materials, two counts of receipt of child sexual abuse materials, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse materials. If convicted of the attempted production offense, Leach faces a minimum of 15 years, to as many as 30 years, in federal prison. For each receipt and possession offense, Leach faces a minimum of five years, up to 20 years, in federal prison.  

According to court documents, Leach engaged in conversations on an online chat platform during which he paid money to receive child sex abuse images. An investigation into the account resulted in Leach being identified. Federal search warrants were executed at Leach’s home and business in St. Augustine, Dymeng Techology, where law enforcement seized numerous electronic devices. A forensic examination of the devices reveled child sexual abuse material.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Washington.

It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc.

Woman arrested for taking  ex-husband’s cellphone

 ORANGE PARK – A domestic dispute led to the arrest of a 45-year-old woman who was accused of scratching another woman’s arms and taking her ex-husband’s cellphone on June 5.

Callisa Lanita Muse, of Palatka, was charged with two counts of assault and battery during a burglary and assault and battery during the burglary of a vehicle after she was stopped at a convenience store on Fleming Island after CCSO was called about a disturbance on Wells Road.

According to the arrest report, the ex-husband’s cellphone was on the front seat of Muse’s car.

Muse was ordered held without bond. Her next court appearance will be on July 1.