Expansions to Historic Fort King Pg B2
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 20
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MAY 19 - MAY 25, 2023
Chamberlin wins House District 24
A sweet claim to TV fame
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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epublican Ryan Chamberlin defeated write-in candidate Robert “Foxy” Fox in Tuesday’s special election to capture the Florida House District 24 seat. Unofficial results from the Marion County Supervisor of Elections Office show Chamberlin received 6,683 votes to 1,886 for Fox, a Republican who ran as a write-in candidate. There were no Democrats in the race. Out of 133,738 registered voters in House District 24, only 8,758 cast ballots-a voter turnout of 6.55%. The special election was needed to fill the seat vacated in December when incumbent Joe Harding resigned after being indicted on several federal fraud charges related to pandemic-era relief funding. The Ocala Republican has pleaded guilty to the charges and will be sentenced in July. This was Chamberlin’s second political campaign. He ran for Congress in 2020 and lost in the Republican primary to Kat Cammack, who went on to win the House District 3 seat. The bulk of Chamberlin’s votes in Tuesday’s election, a total of 4,832, were vote-by-mail ballots. Ironically, Chamberlin had repeatedly expressed a lack of trust in mail-in voting on the campaign trail. At a candidate forum during the primary election, Chamberlin was asked what measures he would use to combat voter fraud. He told the audience he would make sure everyone had access to a 2020 election denial political conspiracy theory film called “2000 mules,” which purportedly follows unnamed nonprofits that harvest ballots. Chamberlin, 48, calls himself a “red-meat conservative” in the mold of Gov. Ron DeSantis, former President Donald Trump and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. He also promotes himself as a savvy networker, successful businessman, author, speaker, and “consultant helping thousands of entrepreneurs.” Chamberlin’s campaign raised several concerns about how the race developed as well as the sources of his income and the funding of his campaign. Fox said he was “duped’’ by Chamberlin’s campaign treasurer into running as a write-in candidate in the primary, a move that effectively closed the door to Democratic and independent voters. Jose Juarez, one of the other candidates in the primary, has filed a suit against a Chamberlinaffiliated political action committee that he says sent out campaign mailers containing false information about him. The attack mailers followed a move by Chamberlin to get the other candidates to sign on to a “clean campaign’’ pledge. Chamberlin used DeSantis’ See Chamberlin, page A3
Le Bescond prepares a donut-based creation on the Food Network‘s “Summer Baking Championship.” [Rob Pryce]
WEC’s Yohann Le Bescond moves forward in the Food Network’s “Summer Baking Championship.” By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com
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on’t adjust your set. That is indeed Yohann Le Bescond, the executive pastry chef at Ocala’s World Equestrian Center, competing on the Food Network’s “Summer Baking Championship.”
The new Food Network series premiered with two back-to-back episodes on Monday, May 15, at 9 p.m. on Food Network and Discovery+. Ten bakers from across the U.S. tackled summer-themed baking challenges featuring bright, tropical flavors and ingredients. Hosted by Jesse Palmer, the cableTV competition series features celebrity
judges Duff Goldman, Carla Hall and Damaris Phillips, who will pick the $25,000 grand prize-winning “Summer Baking Champion.” Back in Ocala, Le Bescond hosted a viewing party with friends when the premiere aired on the Food Network. Photographer Dave Miller was among the See Food Network, page A2
State announces murder charges against three youths in March triple homicides By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
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hree Marion County youths have been indicted on murder charges for their roles in the March 30 slaying of three juveniles in Ocklawaha that stunned the region and drew national attention. Fifth Circuit State Attorney William “Bill’’ Gladson has announced that two of the male suspects—one a 16-yearold and the other a 17-yearold--were indicted on three counts each of first-degree murder. The third suspect, a 12-year-old boy, was indicted by the grand jury on one count of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three Marion County juveniles. The three suspects were also indicted on charges of robbery with a firearm and tampering with physical evidence. Gladson has indicated that all three will be charged as adults in Marion County Circuit Court, an unusual step
for a 12-year-old criminal suspect. Fifth Circuit Public Defender Michael Graves told the “Gazette,” “I’m not saying it’s never happened. I just don’t know of a time myself when a 12-year-old has ever been tried for murder as an adult.” Walter Forgie, the spokesperson for the state attorney’s office, cited two times a 12-year-old has faced murder charges as an adult elsewhere in Florida: once in Broward County and once in the Pensacola area. Forgie also pointed out that his office has charged 13-year-olds as adults for crimes in the past. At a first appearance Tuesday morning, Graves’ office was assigned to represent the minors. However, Graves told the “Gazette” that because of a conflict of interest the office will recuse itself from representing the suspects, who will be referred to conflict counsel. All three defendants are being held without bond in the Marion County Jail. Circuit Judge Robert W. Hodges has
been assigned the case.
The loss
under Marsy’s Law, which provides protections for crime victims and their families. According to public records from the sheriff ’s office, the three victims knew the three youths charged with their deaths. Lisa Windsor, Layla’s grandmother, with whom she See Charged, page A7
According to the Marion County Sheriff ‘s Office, Layla Silvernail, 16, died April 4 after being shot and critically injured March 30 on SE 183rd Avenue near Forest Lakes Park. A 17-year-old male was found shot to death on March 31 along SE 188th Court, and Camille Quarles, a 16-year-old girl, was found dead from gunshot wounds in the trunk of a partially submerged vehicle near Malauka Loop Trace. Authorities said they are withholding the names of the male victim based on the File photo: Bill Gladson on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/ family’s request Ocala Gazette] 2021.
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