Hendry Sheriff Arrests - Drugs, Probation Violations, DUIs

ARREST BLOTTER

12/08/2025 – 12/14/2025

Felony / DUI Arrest

Beatriz Perez, 57, Clewiston was arrested on December 8, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff R. Gosa on charges of Driving While License Suspended/Revoked and Possession of Controlled Substance without Prescription

Andrew Lemont Williams, 47, Clewiston was arrested on December 8, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff R. Gosa on charges of Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Drug Equipment

Lee Edwards Odoms, 37, Clewiston was arrested on December 8, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff G. Camacho on charges of Outstanding Warrant – Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle

Raul Ruiz, 60, LaBelle was arrested on December 8, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff D. Givans for Outstanding Warrant on charges of Lewd Lascivious Behavior on vic less than 12 years of Age

Briana Agnes Rabuini, 22, Ochopee, was arrested on December 8, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff I. Cadena for Outstanding Warrant on charges of Felony Violation of Conditions of Release

Carlos Ernest Rojas, 64, LaBelle was arrested on December 9, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff S. Desire for Two Outstanding Warrant – Felony Probation Violation

Vilma M. Pereira, 56, Clewiston was arrested on December 9, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff G. Camacho on charges of Driving While License Suspended/Revoked 3rd or Subsequent Offense

Jonathan Escobedo-Sanchez, 26, LaBelle was arrested on December 10, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff D. Blanco on charges of Driving While License Suspended/Revoked – Habitual Offender

Paola Andrea Salas, 40, Clewiston was arrested on December 10, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff N. Velazquez-Olvera on charges of Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon without Intent to Kill

Mahalet Natane Gonzalez, 27, LaBelle was arrested on December 10, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff M. Leavens on charges of Felony Probation Violation

Jose Diaz-Martinez, 35, LaBelle was arrested on December 11, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff M. Leavens on charges of Felony Probation Violation

Alicia Medina, 49, N. Ft. Myers was arrested on December 11, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff G. Hull on charges of DUI – Damage to Property or Person and DUI – Refusal to Submit

LeFonza McCoy, 53, Clewiston was arrested on December 11, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff J. Coley on charges of DUI – Damage to Property or Person, DUI – Refusal to Submit, Driving While License Suspended and Misd Probation Violation

Erik Gonzalez, 22, Clewiston was arrested on December 12, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff R. Morales on charges of Driving While License Suspended/Revoked, Hit and Run – Failure to Stop with Injuries, Hit and Run – Leaving the Scene of a Crash, Possession of Firearm by Florida Convicted Felon, Possession of Drug Equipment and Possession of Controlled Substance without Prescription

Cornelius Levonte Thornton, 28, Belle Galde was arrested on December 12, 2025, by Sgt. J. Olvera on charges of Felony Failure to Appear

Malic Jamar Fowler, 24, West Palm Beach was arrested on December 12, 2025, by Sgt. J. Olvera on charges of Felony Probation Violation

Christan Agosto, 35, Clewiston was arrested on December 12, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff M. Ramos on two counts of Aggravated Assault on LEO and Threat to Do Violence

Herbert Roy Unkefer, 65, LaBelle was arrested on December 12, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff S. Farraj on charges of Felony Probation Violation

Manuel Cabrera Leon, 53, LaBelle was arrested on December 14, 2025, by Det Sgt. R. Krasinskas on charges of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon

Rodney Nigel Phillips, 59, Clewiston was arrested on December 14, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff B. Dibernardino on charges of DUI and Driving While License Suspended/Revoked 2nd Subsequent Offender

Terry Allen Collins, 60, LaBelle was arrested on December 14, 2025, by Deputy Sheriff M. Huapilla on charges of Felony failure to Appear

Tedaryl Ardell McKinnon Sentenced To 25 Years For Sale Of Crack Cocaine

LaBelle (December 15, 2025) – Tedaryl Ardell McKinnon was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison for Sale of a Controlled Substance within 1,000 feet of a Public Park and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent within 1,000 feet of a Public Park. He was sentenced to 194.475 months in prison for Possession of a Vehicle for Drug Sales.

The defendant was convicted in October, following a trial in Hendry County. Assistant State Attorney Kyle Bermingham prosecuted the case.

The defendant was arrested following an undercover operation by the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, targeting illicit narcotics sales in LaBelle. On October 13, 2023, the defendant sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant.

Sa'Nvree Myers Setting Records For Moore Haven Basketball

MOORE HAVEN, FL. -- Sa'Nyree Myers from Moore Haven, Florida is making waves on the basketball court as one of the top national scorers in the country. Averaging around 33 points per game, Myers ranks in the top 5 nationally and holds the number one spot in Florida for points per game. Additionally, she is ranked number three in the Rural State division for 3 pointers and field goals made, while also averaging an impressive 5.6 steals per game.

Not only is Myers a star on the court, but she excels off the court as well. With a 4.0 GPA, she is set to graduate with an AA from Florida South Western State College and a high school diploma in May 2026. Her hard work has not gone unnoticed, as she was recently nominated for the McDonald's All American Games and is eagerly awaiting the selection committee's decision.

Myers attributes much of her success to her teammates first and foremost, and coaches at Moore Haven Middle-High School. Under the guidance of head coach Jeff Gonzales and assistant coach Rashonda Croskey, Myers and her team have remained undefeated with 9 wins and no losses approaching the halfway mark of their season.

As a standout player in Glades County, Florida, Myers' talent and work ethic have not only caught the attention of local fans but have also garnered national recognition. With her sights set on further success both on and off the court, Sa'Nyree Myers is a name to remember in the world of high school basketball.

A Lodge Called Folkestone by Bob Kranich

This is a new book. It is about the Lodge I built in the Smoky Mountains, near Bryson City, and Deep Creek campground, North Carolina. Having been from Florida, I know that a lot of Floridians love to visit the Smoky Mountains National Park. Therefore hopefully you will enjoy my story of the building of “A Lodge Called Folkestone”.

The Dream, The Challenge, The People
by Bob Kranich

(Excerpt 12)

“The Lodge Called Folkestone”. You may wonder why the first half of the book is about my many adventures throughout the USA. Well, this first part explains just why my interests changed from hot rodding cars to backpacking. How the idea of a lodge came about, and just how the lodge came to be in North Carolina and next to the Smoky Mountain National Park, Deep Campground to be exact.

Since we were about eight feet away, and sitting on the lower bunks, we must have blended well with the shadows in the back of the shelter. All at once, the mother bear saw us, and not to let us know she was frightened, she made a sudden lunge towards us of only a couple of feet. If it had been a few more inches, I’m sure there would have been four new doors in the back of that shelter. Our hearts were stopped, and we sat wide-eyed and mute. Then, mamma bear and her baby bear left as fast as they had come, and hardly gave us any time to regain our senses. The Smoky bears look small and harmless, but I assure you that from that angle, those claws and teeth sure looked menacing!

This incident must have swayed the guerrilla team, for they decided to stay and not venture on. With good reason, the top bunks were in great demand that evening. More than once that night, I woke up in a half-drowsy condition, and heard the bears grubbing around near the fireplace. The bear’s eternal quest is for food.

The next morning, I bid the group goodbye. They went the way of my last friends. Today, I decided that I would leave my gear in the shelter, and go exploring down Hazel Creek. First I got some snacks, my compass, and map, put them in a small pouch, and filled my canteen. Next, I secured my food bag to a high beam in a waterproof bag in the roof of the shelter. I was ready, and headed down the trail. I had to go a little over a mile along the Welch Ridge trail before the Hazel Creek trail came up and intersected with it. The farther down I got, the more I could hear the sounds of Hazel Creek. Then I came upon an old logging railroad switchback. There actually were some steel rails spiked to old logs which were used for the ties. Soon I was next to the creek, and wherever there were pools, I could see dark forms of rainbow trout.

Looking around at the afternoon sunlight streaming into the small meadow, and lighting it with such radiant colors that accent the beautiful foliage, I realized that this would have been an enchanting place to live. I should have started back, but I found a wider road running parallel to the creek, and decided to follow it farther down the trail. I ate my lunch as I leisurely strolled along. I continued along the road that continually forded the creek, back and forth, ever going down.

Suddenly, it dawned on me that the day was more than half gone, and I should backtrack. As I got back to the meadow, an impulse hit me, and I decided to take an old trail that was shown on my map. However, the map didn’t show that it was overgrown or how impossible it is to hike on those kind of trails. After about an hour of scrambling through uncut brush, I turned back. Then, I realized that I had lost the trail. In fact, it looked different in reverse!

I found myself running trying to regain the trail. Then I stopped, and had to talk myself back to composure. I said out loud to myself, “Keep your cool, Bob. This is how people get lost. Just go slow, and think, after all, you’ve got food, a compass, and water.” Water! In my panic, I had not noticed that all along I had been listening to the gurgles of a small branch creek that surely had to have a mother creek.

“All I have to do is follow this branch, and it should return to Hazel Creek.”

Sure enough, it did. After a few minutes, I was back on the trail and soon in the meadow. By that time the sun was down close to the tops of the ridges around me. I had dropped 2,500 feet that day from Silers Bald. Boy, I really had some hiking to do! I quickly moved out. Fortunately, the light stayed the same, for as the sun went down, I went up. About halfway up, my leg developed a cramp, and I had to rely on a walking stick which I picked up along the trail. Eventually, all the familiar spots passed by, only in the opposite direction.

The light was getting dusky when I got to the top of the Welch Ridge. That’s when I saw a big buck raise his head from a nearby bush. With his ears erect, he saw me heading towards him, and went crashing into the dense growth with his white tail up and flashing.

Before long, I was hobbling into camp, and to my amazement, a whole Boy Scout troop was my company for the evening. This wasn’t my only surprise, though. The boys showed me my misfortune. Mamma and baby bear had somehow gotten my food bag down and had eaten or tried to eat most of my rations. Even the cans were bitten through. Luckily, after taking inventory, I still had enough provisions for a day and one-half. That would be just enough to hike back to my base, the old Ranchero truck. There were also two rangers who had hiked in for the express purpose of chasing the bears from this area. It seemed that the bears had frightened a few other hiking parties.

We had a good campfire talk that evening, my first campfire on the trip. From the rangers, I found out that the uprooted grass I had seen earlier on the Bald was from Russian boars. They were numerous in the Smokies, but were so wild that even a hunter would have a tough time seeing one.

Our attention was directed to the rangers’ return home. Since they hadn’t any sleeping gear, they left after our campfire talk. They were going to make their way back in the dark, an adventurous lot they were, I must say. In fact, you will read a lot of warnings to never hike in the dark. It’s too dangerous.

That night, I drifted to sleep with the old familiar sounds of a Boy Scout camp. Chop, chop, chop as they prepared more and more wood for their relentless consuming fire.

By morning, I was ready to move out. The troop was going down where I had been yesterday to do some trout fishing. I told them about the dark forms I had seen in the many pools. “Hopefully you should have some good luck,” I said.
I left the Silers Bald shelter. As I was heading down the trail, I was suddenly startled by what appeared to me as an early morning mirage. There coming towards me was a girl with a full pack! Alone? Nope. “Morning,” they both said as she and a boy passed me.

Soon I was back on the ridges heading towards the Dome. At times, when I was on a rise, I could see all the lower peaks stair-stepping up to the highest. It took me two hours to hike the four miles to Clingmans Dome. On the top of the Dome is a concrete spiral lookout, a major tourist attraction for that area. Once on the lookout, one can see over the trees, far out into the Smokies. All the peaks are wooded, and do not go over the tree line. I slipped into the flow of tourists walking towards the spiral. The view was marvelous. At times though, one could be up here looking out, and then suddenly be enveloped in a moist, dewy cloud. Then before long, the view would be perfectly clear again.

1920s Steam Locomotive Takes Santa To Kids

U.S. Sugar, Toys for Tots Team Up to Provide Thousands of Toys via Sugar Express to Children this Christmas

Last weekend, the Sugar Express carried a special guest on a very important mission.

Rebranded the "Santa Express" for the holiday season, the 100-year-old steam locomotive traveled to Belle Glade, Clewiston, Moore Haven and Sebring with thousands of toys donated by U.S. Sugar and its employees.

Santa, Mrs. Claus and members of the U.S. Marine Corps handed out the the Christmas gifts at each stop along the railway.

The event marks the fifth year U.S. Sugar has partnered with Toys for Tots to deliver holiday cheer to local children in need. Families in attendance had the opportunity to meet with Santa and received a gift, free of charge.

"We worked diligently as a team to coordinate this effort and deliver some cheer this holiday season," said Brannan Thomas, director of community relations at U.S. Sugar. "If there's a family in need across Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Martin and Palm Beach counties, we're here to help. That's just who we are."

Through a combination of purchased toys and toys donated by employees, U.S. Sugar provided thousands of gifts to local children.