Local

HAWTHORNE ‒ Wesley Robert Fickett, 44, was arrested on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, for allegedly sexually abusing a young teenage girl over a six-month period in various locations, including a secluded area in Lochloosa known as “Long Bridge.”

The incidents reportedly took place over six months and in several locations, including an area in Lochloosa known as “Long Bridge,” a secluded bridge that crosses a creek. Wesley Robert Fickett allegedly gave the girl alcohol at least once before having sex with her. The victim told an investigator from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office that they had sexual intercourse approximately 10 times.

Deputies apprehended Fickett as he was driving away from his home. During a post-Miranda interview, Fickett denied having any sexual relations with the victim but admitted to taking her to “Long Bridge” on several occasions to drink alcohol. He claimed their interactions involved “talks about sex” to answer her “sexual questions” and noted that a few of those encounters were “hazy.” He denied any inappropriate activity and ultimately requested an attorney, ending the interview.

Fickett has been charged with three counts of lewd or lascivious battery and three counts of a person over 18 causing a person under 18 to come into contact with certain bodily fluids.

Fickett’s complete criminal history is unavailable, but he successfully completed a deferred prosecution agreement following a 2000 arrest for marijuana possession, and the charge was dropped. Two domestic battery cases from 2018 were later dropped. Also in 2018, he was charged in Putnam County with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and property damage and entered a plea of nolo contendere to a reduced charge of simple battery and property damage, with a sentence of 120 days in jail, followed by 12 months of probation.

Judge Adam Lee ordered Fickett held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - City of Gainesville officials anticipate severe weather conditions, including temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit during the evening hours of:

• Thursday, Jan. 9
• Saturday, Jan. 11
• Sunday, Jan. 12

 The overnight temperatures on Friday are expected to be over 45 F.

 The anticipated temperatures will lead to the extended activation of the city's Cold Night Shelter (CNS) Program, and it is expected to remain in effect until overnight low temperatures rise above 45 F. The CNS program normally runs from Nov. 1 through March 31.

 St. Francis House and GRACE Marketplace will provide Cold Night Shelter services to people in need of shelter as long as overnight temperatures remain below 45 F. The CNS program providers serve additional persons in need of shelter so that families and individuals desiring shelter will have a warm place to stay. St. Francis House provides temporary shelter that is appropriate for families, women and children. GRACE Marketplace primarily serves individual adults.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua County Arts Council has announced the return of its annual Artists Conference, scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2025. Now in its fourth year, the event aims to foster connections and learning within the local arts community.

The council is currently seeking presenters for the conference. Prospective speakers are encouraged to propose sessions that would engage and benefit the arts community. Each presentation should run between 30 to 60 minutes, including time for audience questions and answers.

Additionally, the council is welcoming sponsors to support the event. Both presentation and sponsorship applications can be found on the council’s website under the “Artists Conference” section at alachuacounty.us/Arts-Council. The deadline to submit applications is Jan. 31, 2025.

The conference aligns with the council's mission to enhance the quality of life for Alachua County residents by promoting arts exposure, supporting local artists, and expanding community resources for the arts.

For more details, interested individuals can contact Gina Peebles, Alachua County Assistant County Manager – Chief of Staff, at 352-538-8265 or via email at gpeebles@alachuacounty.us.

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ALACHUA COUNTY - It’s a new year for Alachua County Parks and Open Space with new and continuing programs for children. 

Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center is continuing its popular Homeschool Junior Naturalist Program for grades K-6. Each month, a different topic, hands-on activities, and science-based programming are offered. Students will explore topics like life cycles, habitats, trees and more. These programs are offered the second Wednesday of every month, beginning in February 2025 through April, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  

Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center is also offering a new program for preschoolers. Preschool Environmental Education Program Series (PEEPS) will be offered on the first Wednesday of each month, starting in February 2025. This is a program for ages 2 to 4. PEEPS encourages outdoor exploration that supports child development and helps children grow independence and confidence while helping them build a relationship with the natural world. This program begins Feb. 5 and runs from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. 

 Both programs cost $4 per Alachua County resident and $5 per nonresident. 

 Another new program, Park Play Pals, is a playgroup tailored for youth with special needs. Park Play Pals will be located at a different playground throughout Alachua County each month. This program is for ages ten and under and requires parental participation. It will occur on the third Wednesday of each month, starting in February, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The first program will occur at Veterans Memorial Playground on Feb. 19, 2025. The second program will occur at Squirrel Ridge Park on March 19, 2025. The third program will occur on April 16, 2025, at Cynthia Moore Chestnut Park. This is a free program, but participants are encouraged to register online using the link below. 

Register for the programs online. 

 For more information, contact Cuscowilla Manager Jamie Bass at 352-574-2372 or jbass@alachuacounty.us.

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GAINESVILLE – A 41-year-old woman from Archer was arrested early Tuesday morning, Nov. 19, 2024, after a rollover crash on Interstate 75 near the Newberry Road exit. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers determined she was impaired, with breath tests later revealing her blood alcohol concentration was over 2.5 times the legal limit.

FHP responded to the crash at approximately 12:19 a.m. and found a Hyundai Elantra overturned in the grass median between the northbound lanes and the exit ramp. About 100 feet of guardrail was damaged in the incident.

The driver, Ariel Samone Love Lassiter, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Witnesses reportedly helped her out of the car before law enforcement arrived. Lassiter, standing outside the vehicle when FHP troopers arrived, declined medical transport despite being visibly shaken. She reportedly told authorities she had been northbound on I-75 and missed the exit, attempting to cut over before crashing.

Witnesses told investigators they detected a strong odor of alcohol and marijuana emanating from the vehicle. One witness noted that Lassiter's speech was slurred. Troopers reported finding a half-full bottle of green alcoholic beverage in the car. They also observed that Lassiter’s eyes were red, watery, and glassy, and she struggled with balance.

Post-Miranda, Lassiter admitted to having consumed two or three beers earlier in the night and a possible mixed drink. She also stated she had smoked marijuana a few hours before the crash. However, she blamed her swaying and balance issues on knee problems.

A Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test conducted by the trooper indicated impairment. Lassiter was advised she was too impaired to drive and was subsequently arrested.

fter being medically cleared at an emergency room, Lassiter was transported to the jail. Breathalyzer tests revealed blood alcohol levels of .224 g/210L and .218 g/210L, both significantly above the legal limit of .08. She was charged with DUI with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher and DUI with property damage.

Lassiter has a history of legal issues, including a 2018 conviction for driving with a blood alcohol concentration over .15 and possession of drug paraphernalia. She also has three other misdemeanor convictions, one of which was violent.

Judge Kristine Van Vorst set Lassiter’s bail at $5,000 with several conditions, including the use of a transdermal alcohol detection device and a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., except for work-related activities.

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ALACHUA ‒ The holiday spirit was in full swing on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, as sirens and flashing lights from the Alachua Police Department (APD) accompanied a busload of excited children to the entrance of the Gainesville Walmart on U.S. Highway 441. But the kids weren’t in any trouble—far from it. They were participants in the annual “Shop with a Cop” event, a heartwarming holiday tradition designed to ensure a brighter Christmas for families in need.

The event has become a holiday tradition for APD, City of Alachua staff, and volunteers. The festive outing began as children loaded on a school bus to be escorted by squad cars and police SUVs—lights flashing—to the Walmart parking lot. APD reported that children from local schools were treated with the shopping spree armed with a gift card to spend on any items they wished, which for many included gifts for family members.

Inside the store, each child was teamed up with a uniformed officer. Armed with gift lists, shopping carts, and big smiles, they strolled aisle after aisle, picking out toys, clothing, and other holiday essentials. Laughter, high-fives, and excited chatter filled the air. And as children, fortified with their newfound purchasing power, browsed the store aisles, their joy was evident in their smiling faces. Today, they went beyond simply peeking at displays; they could finally explore the aisles and bring home that perfect gift.

For many of the participating students, the gifts they purchased weren’t just for themselves. Some were eager to buy items for siblings, parents, or grandparents.

The event was made possible through donations from local businesses and private sponsors. In a season often filled with both warmth and financial stress, “Shop with a Cop” aims to lighten the load for families who could use extra help.

“Shop with a Cop” will undoubtedly be a day to remember in the lives of the children who had the opportunity to not only make their Christmas a happy one, but also a joyous occasion for their families as well. And for the officers, it’s a poignant reminder of the impact they can make, one holiday wish at a time.

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