OCALA, Fla. – The State Attorney’s Office in Ocala has filed charges against a man in connection with shooting deaths that occurred at the beginning of 2023. In addition, federal officials have announced the prosecution of close to 2,000 people in child exploitation cases in 2023.
Lebron Mondale Jones, 19, of Anthony, is facing two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, and one count of attempt second-degree murder, principal. Prosecutors have officially signaled their intention to move forward with the case, with the next hearing for Jones scheduled for a pre-trial conference in early 2024 in front of Circuit Judge Robert Hodges.
Jones was taken into custody in November in connection with the shooting deaths of two individuals and the injury of four others during a block party. The investigation continues, and detectives are confident that there was more than one shooter.
In a separate case, federal officials have prosecuted more than 1,500 people as part of Project Safe Neighborhood, an initiative aimed at protecting children from abuse and sex exploitation. 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.
The evidence uncovered during the investigation of Oglesby’s case shows the disturbing tactics used by predators to exploit children. The successful prosecution of these cases shows the commitment of law enforcement officials and attorneys to standing by the victims and putting a stop to this unwarranted behavior toward children.
This serves as a reminder of the importance of reporting any information related to such incidents to the authorities. The pursuit of justice in these cases exemplifies the dedication to protecting individuals from exploitation and addressing these serious criminal offenses.