Ocala courts: 30-year prison term in child sex case
Multiple felony cases were either resolved or addressed during hearings held July 28 through Aug. 4 at the Marion County Judicial Center. Here's a recap:
State v. Tracie Renee Puskac
The charge has been upgraded against this Summerfield woman, who was arrested last month in connection with the death of her child.
Tracie Renee Puskac was booked into the county jail on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of her 17-month-old son, Jermiyah.
But on July 28 a grand jury heard the case against the 36-year-old mother and agreed with prosecutors that the charge should be murder while engaged in aggravated child abuse. The grand jury met for about two hours. Assistant State Attorney Amy Berndt is the prosecutor on the case. Details from grand jury proceedings are secret.
If Puskac is convicted as charged, she faces life behind bars. Presently, Puskac is being held without bail at the county jail.
Sheriff's detectives said the boy died on April 29. According to Puskac's arrest report, the child had "a skull fracture, subdural hemorrhage, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries." The injuries came from an "abusive trauma of the head and neck," and the death was classified as a homicide.
State v. Rudolph Valentino Robinson
The latest: An arraignment for Rudolph Valentino Robinson was held in County Judge LeAnn Mackey-Barnes' courtroom on Aug. 1. The court was informed that prosecutors were not pursing an attempted felony murder charge. The reason given: Though there was probable cause for Robinson's arrest, the likelihood of conviction at trial was not good because a key witness is no longer cooperative.
The other charge, possession of drug paraphernalia, has been transferred to another court since it's a misdemeanor offense.
Lawyer: Robinson is represented by Assistant Public Defender Sean Gravel, according to court records.
Jail: Records show the 35-year-old man, listed as homeless, is at the county jail, where bail is set at $1,000.
About the case: Ocala police arrested Robinson and accused him of shoving a woman to the ground and choking her. A man saw the commotion and reportedly hit Robinson in the head with an object, officers were told. According to the police report, authorities were told that the woman had given Robinson a ride.
State v. Joshua Valentine
Charge: Capital sexual battery and lewd and lascivious battery on a child.
Plea: At his pre-trial hearing, held in front of Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon on Aug. 3, Valentine pleaded no contest to a lesser charge: attempted sexual battery. The second offense remained the same.
Lawyers: Assistant State Attorney Katrina Self for the state and Maria E. Castagliuolo for the defense.
Sentence: In a negotiated agreement between the parties, Valentine was sentenced to a 30-year prison term followed by 15 years of probation. He has 1,582 days of credit for time already served at the county jail.
Special conditions: Valentine can have no contact with the victim or her mother and must register as a sexual predator.
About the case: The 30-year-old Fort McCoy man was arrested by sheriff's deputies in 2019 and accused of molesting a girl.
State v. Charles Milton Johns Jr.
Charge: Travel to meet minor; use of computer to seduce, solicit and lure a child; and unlawful use of two-way communication device.
Plea: Guilty.
Lawyers: Self and Assistant Public Defender Walter Flinn.
Judge: Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon.
Sentence: Johns was sentenced to three years in prison for use of computer to seduce, solicit and lure a child. He has 491 days of credit for time already served. Prosecutors declined to pursue the other two charges.
Special conditions: The 39-year-old man must register as a sexual offender.
About the case: Johns was one of almost two dozen men charged with trying to meet children on the internet and arrange sex. The men were picked up during a 2022 sting operation called "April Fools."
State v. Trevor David Henderson
Plea: Henderson has pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a law enforcement official with a firearm and use of firearm while under the influence
Sentence: Herndon will determine his sentence since Henderson did not have a plea bargain negotiated. He's slated to be sentenced next month. Henderson remains free on bond until sentencing. He faces up to 15 years in prison. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered.
Lawyers: Assistant State Attorney Marissa Meyer and Melanie Slaughter.
About the case: Ocala police officials said Henderson, 34, pointed a loaded gun in an officer's face in 2021. The officers were at Henderson's residence due to a disturbance.
An officer and Henderson struggled for the gun and the officer was able to take the gun away from Henderson. Authorities first encountered Henderson and his girlfriend at the downtown square after receiving a call about two intoxicated individuals. Officers took the couple home.
State v. Wesley Shawn Hicks
Hicks, 45, originally was charged with travel to meet minor after use of computer to lure child; use computer to seduce, solicit, lure child; and unlawful use of a two-way communications device to facilitate.
At Hicks' hearing on Aug. 4, the state said it decided not to pursue charges of use computer to seduce, solicit lure child and unlawful use of two-way communications device to facilitate. Hicks pleaded no contest to the third charge.
Judge: Circuit Judge Peter Brigham.
Sentence: Hicks was sentenced to 26 months in prison followed by five years of probation. He has two days for credit for time already served at the county jail.
Special conditions: Hicks must register as a sexual offender, cannot have any contact with any juveniles, and must complete sex offender treatment and counseling.
About the case: The Inglis man was arrested as part of the "Operation April Fools" sting in 2022.
Contact reporter Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala courthouse: Prison terms handed down in multiple child sex cases
