Ocala courthouse: Plea deals reached for two men facing felony charges
Two men recently agreed to plea deals to resolve separate criminal cases. Here's what we know:
State v. Walter Oliver Armstrong
Plea: no contest
Charge: child abuse
Sentence: five years of probation and a 10-week anger management course.
Conditions: cannot have any contact with the victim, must surrender any certification permitting employment within a juvenile detention, jail or prison, and cannot work in any such facilities.
About this case: At the time of his April 2020 arrest, Armstrong worked at the Marion Youth Academy in northwest Marion County. According to an arrest report, law enforcement officials were told Armstrong, 59, punched and choked a juvenile at the facility.
State v. Tederien Marques Jackson
Plea: no contest
Charge: drug charges and DUI manslaughter
Sentence: 15.25 years in prison (632 days credit for time already served at the jail awaiting resolution of this case.)
Conditions; Must submit a DNA sample, cannot consume or posses any alcohol, drugs or illegal substance or medication without a valid prescription, must attend a victim impact panel within the first 18 months of probation and must submit to random drug screening at his own expense twice a month.
The victim's mother speaks out: It has been a long and rocky road for Amber Rhoads, whose son, Dusty Ray Rhoads, was killed when his vehicle was hit by Jackson, authorities said.
"I'm glad we got justice for Dusty," his mother said by phone.
Rhoads' son died along State Road 40 after a three-vehicle crash.
"We're doing OK. It's never been the same," she said.
Rhoads said her son died when he was 18, and he would've been 22 in June.
"I want to thank the State Attorney's Office for fighting hard for Dusty, and the Ocala Police Department for keeping in touch with me," she said.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Two men facing felony charges agree to plea deals at Ocala courthouse
