Two Bronson residents arrested on burglary charges; if you have information, please contact the LCSO
LCSO mugshots: Jones (left) and Watkins (right).
Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO)
During the month of April 2024, deputies with the Levy County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) responded to multiple reports of burglaries in the Fanning Springs Annex subdivision located in Trenton, Florida where homes were forcibly entered and valuble items including jewelry and tools were stolen.
Detective Corporal Danny Griffeth, supervisor of the Crime Scene Division, collected evidence in several of these cases. During the investigation, she recovered home surveillance footage of a suspicious vehicle leaving one of the crime scenes. She identified the type of car in the surveillence, and on April 24, alerted the Patrol Division of this vehicle of interest in the burglary investigations.
On April 26, Deputy Joe Wilber conducted patrol in the Fanning Springs Annex subdivision, searching for the vehicle of interest described by Corporal Griffeth. He located the vehicle and attempted to make contact with the driver, in order to identify him. However, the driver fled from the deputy - but not before Deputy Wilber obtained the vehicle's tag number and a description of the driver. The tag number identified the vehicle's owner as 19 year-old Riley Watkins of Bronson, Florida.
Detective Cody Weaver, who was assigned to continue these investigations, learned that Watkins had recently pawned property in Gainesville that matched the description of property stolen during these burglaries.
Deputy Dakota Dowling was familiar with Watkins' boyfriend, 26 year-old Arthur Jones of Bronson, who matched the description of the man who fled from Deputy Wilber and also had a warrant for his arrest on a charge of driving under the influence.
Deputy Dowling was aware that Jones frequents several locations in the Fanning Springs Annex, and on April 27, went to the area in an attempt to locate him. Deputy Dowling found Jones standing in a yard in the Fanning Springs Annex. When Jones saw Deputy Dowling, he ran inside a home. Additional LCSO deputies arrived at the location to assist Deputy Dowling, and Jones was taken into custody.
A witness provided information that corroborated information related to the burglary cases, strengthening the case against Jones.
On April 30, 2024, Detective Weaver located Watkins, and took her into custody, as well.
Jones and Watkins were each charged with burglary and grand theft. Watkins' bond was set at $75,000, and Jones' was set at $400,000. Both are incarcerated at the Levy County Detention Bureau in Bronson. The investigation has not been closed, and more charges are expected to be filed in the near future.
Detective Weaver believes there may be additional victims who have not yet been identified. He also believes that other witnesses could provide further information on these cases. if you have information of any of these or simila cases, you can make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-877-349-8477, or you can speak with Detective Weaver by phone at 352-486-5111, extension 364.