Reported by Angelina Nunez
October 2026 (part 3)
Editor’s note:This report contains allegations. All persons accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.
Nicholas Kyle Perez
Background
A cyber-tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) led investigators to a St. Johns County residence, and ultimately, to 19-year-old Nicholas Kyle Perez in an investigation involving child sexual abuse material.
According to the arrest report, the investigation began with a January 2025 cyber-tip from Discord to the NCMEC. Investigators traced an IP address associated with the account to a St. Johns County residence and obtained records from Discord identifying multiple files.
Investigators later reviewed four videos and determined they contained child sexual abuse material. The warrant affidavit lists a report date of January 23, 2025, while the criminal case itself was filed more than a year later, on March 27, 2026. Perez was arrested by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Current Court Status
Following Perez’s arrest, his felony arraignment was continued on September 10, 2026. No plea has been entered. His next felony pretrial hearing is scheduled for October 27, 2026 before Judge Christopher S. Ferebee.
Charges
4 counts of possession of sexual performance by a child
Jeffery Dale Hewett
Background
A 14-year-old boy told investigators that a St. Johns County mechanic repeatedly made sexual requests toward him over several years, including as recently as a month before authorities received an anonymous tip reporting suspicious behavior.
Jeffery Dale Hewett, now 63, was identified as the adult involved after the tip was reported on May 23, 2024, according to the arrest report. According to the investigative report, investigators went to Hewett’s workplace to speak with him. When they arrived, they immediately recognized Hewett and saw a juvenile male sitting at a desk inside the business. The juvenile identified himself as the 14-year-old victim.
The victim told investigators that Hewett had repeatedly asked whether he could perform a sex act on him over several years. The victim said he consistently refused. Investigators later conducted a recorded interview with Hewett, who admitted to making the request and said it occurred approximately five months earlier.
Hewett was booked on May 23, 2024, and later pleaded no contest and was adjudicated guilty in January 2025. He was sentenced to 36 months of probation with sex-offender probation conditions, but later violated the terms of his probation.
Current Court Status
After being arrested on August 18, 2026, for an alleged violation of probation, Hewett remained in custody without bond until a September 9 court hearing. Hewett had previously pleaded no contest and was adjudicated guilty in January 2025 on a felony child abuse charge. He was sentenced to 36 months of probation with sex-offender probation conditions. On September 9, 2026, violation of probation hearing before Judge Christopher S. Ferebee, Hewett admitted to the violation. The court reinstated his probation but ordered the first year to be served on Level 1 community control. All other terms and conditions of his original probation sentence remain in place.
Charges
Soliciting a child or person believed to be a child for unlawful sexual conduct using computer services or devices
Transmission of material harmful to minors by electronic device
Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
John Francis Gallagher
Background
During an ongoing divorce, sexually explicit photos and videos of the victim were allegedly sent to her father. John Francis Gallagher, 28, is accused of maliciously distributing two sexually explicit videos and two photos of his wife without her consent.
According to the arrest warrant, the victim’s father confirmed receiving the messages and identified the person as his daughter. Gallagher and the victim had been married for approximately two years and were going through a divorce at the time of the alleged incident.
During an interview, Gallagher acknowledged sending text messages to the victim’s father but denied sending the explicit photographs and videos. Gallagher was arrested on May 28, 2026, the same day of the incident.
Current Court Status
Shortly after his arrest, Gallagher posted $4,000 in surety bonds and was placed on a domestic violence no-contact order. On June 1, 2026 he entered a written plea of not guilty.
Gallagher allegedly violated his release conditions on August 19 by sending about six messages to the protected party through a parenting app, discussing their relationship rather than their shared child. His bonds were revoked, and he was rearrested August 31, remaining in custody without bond. A September 16 pretrial hearing was continued, with the next hearing scheduled for October 26, 2026 before Judge Alexander R. Christine Jr.
Charges
2 counts of sexual cyber harassment
2 counts of sexually cyberharass another person
Shawn Anthony Hersey
Background
A mother made an alarming discovery when she found severe bruising covering her 1-year-old daughter’s lower back, bottom, and thighs. Shawn Anthony Hersey, 28, a military veteran and the child’s father, is accused of physically abusing the girl while caring for her and her twin sibling over the weekend of May 10-11, 2025, according to the arrest warrant.
The mother, who is married to Hersey, told investigators he called her May 11 while angry over the child having a potty-training accident. He allegedly told her he had “popped” the child and that she was fine. That following morning, the mother discovered dark purple bruising covering the child’s bottom and extending up her back and down her thighs. The child was evaluated by the Child Protection Team and later taken to Wolfson Children’s Hospital for further examination. Medical records documented the injuries as “non-accidental trauma” and listed an initial impression of physical abuse. No other major injuries were found beyond the bruising.
According to the warrant, Hersey later acknowledged losing his temper. During a recorded phone call with the child’s mother, he allegedly admitted to spanking the child, initially saying, “all I did was spank her,” before acknowledging it was “more than one.” He also allegedly described becoming angry after the accident and throwing several items, including the child’s training toilet, outside the home. Hersey was arrested on May 23, 2025.
Current Court Status
After his arrest, Hersey posted a $5,000 surety bond and entered a written plea of not guilty on May 29, 2025. The case continued through several pretrial hearings throughout 2025. On December 19, 2025, Hersey was placed in a court-supervised diversion program for eligible veterans through the St. Johns County Veterans Treatment Court. The case was then marked closed. Throughout 2026, Hersey has continued appearing in Veterans Treatment Court as part of the diversion program. His hearings have repeatedly been continued, including the most recent hearing on September 18, 2026, when the case was reopened for the Veterans Treatment Court proceeding. His next hearing is scheduled for October 16, 2026, before Judge Howard O. McGillin Jr.
Charges
Child abuse
Keith Kawuan Johnson
Background
An argument over a bag of chips shortly escalated when a United States Navy serviceman allegedly grabbed a shotgun during a confrontation with his son.
Keith Kawuan Johnson, 41, is accused of aggravated assault with a firearm following the May 11, 2026, incident, according to the arrest report. The son told deputies Johnson yelled at him about opening a bag of chips before grabbing a shotgun and using it as a “walking cane.” Johnson allegedly continued to grab his son by the shirt and attempted to load a round into the shotgun.
The son called 911, telling dispatchers his father was “not in his right mind” and “has a shotgun in his hands.” Deputies later recovered the shotgun from Johnson’s bedroom with no round in the chamber and five rounds in the magazine tube. Johnson was arrested May 11, 2026.
Current Court Status
Following his arrest, Johnson was released on a $15,000 bond and placed under domestic violence no-contact conditions with GPS monitoring. A series of felony arraignments were continued before the case was placed into Veterans Treatment Court. On September 17, Johnson’s attorney filed a motion to withdraw from the case but withdrew it the following day after Johnson agreed to enter pretrial intervention. On September 18, Johnson pleaded no contest and entered a court diversion program, resolving the criminal case without proceeding to trial. The court ordered alcohol monitoring as a condition of probation and removed his domestic violence GPS monitoring. His $15,000 surety bond was released, and the case was closed. Johnson’s next appearance is scheduled for October 2 at 10 a.m. in Veterans Treatment Court before Judge Howard O. McGillin Jr. for continued participation in the court’s treatment and supervision program.
Charges
Aggravated assault (firearm)
Gary Malcom Green
Background
A 62-year-old man allegedly fired a shotgun at an occupied vehicle, then fired again at a police vehicle after a deputy spotted the SUV and attempted to stop it.
According to the arrest warrant, Gary Malcom Green was seated in the passenger seat of a SUV travelling northbound on U.S. 1 in St. Johns County. Around 12:45 a.m. near 6250 U.S. 1 South, Green allegedly pointed a shotgun out of the passenger window and fired at another moving vehicle, striking its windshield. Two people were inside the vehicle at the time. Investigators said the shooting occurred without any type of provocation. The SUV continued north, where a St. Johns County deputy spotted it near 4600 U.S. 1 South. As the deputy followed, Green allegedly fired another shotgun round, striking the police vehicle’s windshield and prompting a pursuit that ended with his arrest on September 29, 2022.
Current Court Status
Following his arrest, Green underwent several competency evaluations and was found incompetent to proceed in July 2023. He was ordered into involuntary treatment before being found competent to proceed in November 2023. In January 2024, the defense filed a notice of insanity as a defense. On March 27, 2024, Green was found not guilty by reason of insanity in court by Judge R. Lee Smith and was ordered committed for treatment. The case was later reopened for additional mental health evaluations, including orders continuing involuntary hospitalization in 2024 and 2025. On September 15, 2026, following a felony status conference, Judge Christopher S. Ferebee entered an order placing Green on conditional release from treatment. The case was closed the same day.
Charges
Attempted 1st degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm
Attempted first degree murder with a firearm
Throwing deadly missile into occupied vehicle
Throwing deadly missile into occupied vehicle
Discharging a firearm from a vehicle
Discharging a firearm from a vehicle
Murder dangerous depraved without premeditation homicide
Jake Cameron Matthew
Background
A dog’s death investigation in Elkton has uncovered allegations involving gunfire, several mutilated animal remains, and a video allegedly showing live animal baiting. According to the arrest warrant, Jake Cameron Matthew, 34, is accused of killing his adult female dog, Daisy, with a 9mm handgun at his residence and later using a live boar as bait for two of his dogs. Deputies initially responded to two reports of gunshots near Matthew’s home on August 25, 2026, but found nothing suspicious. The following day, St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a vacant lot, directly behind Matthew’s residence, after a decapitated dog torso was reported there. A search of Matthew’s home reportedly uncovered the dog’s severed head, along with a gun cleaning kit, pistol storage case, and a holster while no firearm was found.
Matthew later told detectives he had buried the dog behind his home. Investigators recovered the torso and sent it to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy. The examination determined Daisy suffered nine bullet wounds from five shots. A 9mm bullet was recovered from her torso, and the wounds were consistent with close range gunfire.
A second search warrant executed on September 2, 2026 reportedly uncovered spent 9mm shell casings in Matthew’s backyard near where the dog had been buried, along with a fired bullet lodged in a nearby tree. Police also discovered two dead cats and seized two adult male dogs, eight puppies and two piglets. Matthew, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms, also allegedly posted a TikTok photo of himself holding a pistol. In a separate case, investigators allege Matthew used a live boar as bait for two of his dogs. The warrant states that a video posted to Instagram allegedly shows the boar’s feet tied together while two dogs repeatedly attack its face and neck. Matthew’s arm is reportedly visible pulling on the rope to prevent the animal from escaping. Matthew was arrested on September 17, 2026, in connection with the Daisy-related case. He was arrested again September 23, 2026, in the separate animal-baiting case.
Current Court Status
Following Matthew's arrest, he was placed under GPS electronic monitoring while the case remains pending. No upcoming court events are currently listed. A second case was filed on September 23, 2026, under case number 26001446CFMA, involving an animal fighting charge. A public defender was assigned to represent Matthew. He also asked the court to determine whether he could afford his own attorney and court costs; as of September 24, that request had not yet been approved or denied. Judge Christopher S. Ferebee is overseeing all matters involving Matthew’s cases.
Charges
Aggravated animal cruelty excessive pain/death
Possession of weapon or ammunition by convicted felon
Knowingly giving false Information to law enforcement alleging a crime
Nuisances
Animal fighting
David Wayne Howington
Background
“I may want her to fight,” a 69-year-old man allegedly said while discussing an 8-year-old girl he believed was being hired to babysit.
According to the arrest warrant, David Wayne Howington, a registered sex offender in Pinellas County stemming from a 2003 conviction for unlawful sexual activity with a minor, for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison, allegedly responded on August 14, 2026, to a Craigslist ad seeking a male babysitter for the girl. The person behind the ad was an undercover investigator posing as the child’s father. Howington allegedly said the girl could “cry and scream a little too” before adding, “I may just tie her up to the bed if she really fights back.” Additionally, Howington made plans to travel to the St. Johns County residence to babysit the girl. He was arrested on August 25, 2026.
Current Court Status
After his arrest, Bellamy was released on a $5,000 surety bond. On November 1, 2024, he pleaded no contest to the second-degree felony child abuse charge, with adjudication withheld, and was sentenced to five years of probation. The first-degree misdemeanor battery charge was not pursued.
In 2025, Bellamy violated probation after failing to appear in court and was arrested in June. He was later released on his own recognizance and admitted to violating the terms of his probation. The court reinstated his probation under the same conditions.
He remains under Veterans Treatment Court supervision, with his next hearing scheduled for September 4, 2026 before Judge Howard O. McGillin.
Charges
Soliciting a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child for unlawful sexual conduct using computer services or devices
Unlawful use of a two way communication device
Dylan Tyler Copsey-Saunders
Background
A 20-year-old St. Johns County man is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to charges stemming from his encounters with a 13-year-old girl he allegedly contacted through Snapchat.
Copsey-Saunders allegedly communicated with the victim through Snapchat and arranged to pick her up on multiple occasions, during which they engaged in sexual contact. According to the arrest report, the victim reportedly believed Copsey-Saunders was 17 years old and homeschooled.
Investigators later obtained digital evidence and forensic data documenting the communications between Copsey-Saunders and the victim. Copsey-Saunders was arrested on October 29, 2025.
Current Court Status
The defendant pleaded guilty on August 4, 2026 to two felony counts: traveling to meet a minor and lewd or lascivious battery. No plea has been entered for the remaining four felony counts. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2026 before Judge Christopher S. Ferebee.
Charges
Two counts of traveling to meet a minor
Two counts of lewd or lascivious battery (sex act, 12 YOA but less than 16)
Unlawful use of a two-way communication device
Use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony
helpful links
-
Check your neighborhood here.
-
Check out SJCSO’s community programs and sign up for real-time crime alerts in your area.
-
Search court records.