Crimes and Courts
Florida shooter’s brother Zachary Cruz held on $500,000 in school trespass
Published
7 years agoon
By
Willie David
MIAMI — A judge set an unusually high $500,000 bond on Tuesday and imposed a host of other restrictions for the brother of the Florida school shooting suspect who was charged with trespassing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
A prosecutor said that Zachary Cruz, 18, expressed admiration for his brother Nikolas Cruz’s fame since the Feb. 14 shooting and that they had discussed whether it might attract girls and pen pals.
“He has been heard observing how popular (Nikolas’) name is now,” said Assistant State Attorney Sarahnell Murphy at a hearing.
“Weeks after his brother murdered, injured and terrorized at the school, (Zachary) was there,” she said. “Many (parents) kept their children home today. They have again been terrorized.”
Prosecutors said it was the third time he had visited the campus even though he was warned to stay away.
Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Zachary Cruz on Monday afternoon, saying he rode his skateboard onto the campus. He is in the same Fort Lauderdale jail where Nikolas Cruz is housed.
Joseph Kimok, who is representing Zachary Cruz, said the bond and conditions were far out of proportion to the trespassing offense.
“He is being held for who he is related to, not for anything he did,” Kimok said.
According to an arrest report, Zachary Cruz told officers he came to the school to “reflect on the school shooting and soak it all in.” He did not resist arrest and the report made no mention of any weapons.
Trespassing is a misdemeanor that usually carries only a $25 bond. But Murphy asked for $750,000 and a host of conditions, most of which the judge approved.
Broward County Judge Kim Theresa Mollica ordered Zachary Cruz to wear an ankle monitor and stay away from schools – particularly Stoneman Douglas High – if he is released.
The judge also ordered a search for weapons and ammunition at the Palm Beach County home where he is living with a family friend, and he is not to visit his brother in jail.
Zachary and Nikolas shared the same biological mother but had different fathers. Both were adopted at very young ages by Roger and Lynda Cruz, who moved them into their Parkland home. Lynda Cruz died in November and their father died some years earlier.
Zachary Cruz, who turned 18 a week after the school shooting, has been living in Lantana, Florida, with a family friend, Rocxanne Deschamps, since their mother’s death.
At a news conference Tuesday in New York City, Deschamps described being neighbors with the Cruz family in Parkland and how her son played with the two boys, whom she often cared for and took on outings. In October 2016, she saw a number of guns in Nikolas Cruz’s room she described as military-style, and became concerned about him and the weapons. By this time, Deschamps also had a 5-year-old son.
“I explained to Nikolas that I was concerned about my young child and I could not have him be around loaded guns or any weapons where bullets could be placed in guns,” she said in her first public comments since the shooting.
Just before Lynda Cruz died suddenly last November of pneumonia, Deschamps promised to take care of the boys. She knew Nikolas Cruz had mental issues and obsessions with weapons, and implored him to get professional help and take medication but he refused. Her calls to police about his behavior resulted in no action.
He eventually moved in with another family when Deschamps said she told him to choose between his guns and her home.
“I did everything I could to warn law enforcement about what could happen,” she said. “Unfortunately, although I did everything I could, I was not able to stop this tragedy from taking place.”
Nikolas Cruz was living with a different family when the Stoneman Douglas shooting took place. His attorney has said he will plead guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder if prosecutors will waive the death penalty, which they have refused to do.
Police records show Zachary Cruz has also had a troubled life, including a juvenile arrest record for theft. His mother, Lynda Cruz, made frequent calls to the Broward Sheriff’s Office about him running away, refusing to go to school, being rude and disrespectful and attempting to break things in their Parkland home. Some of the calls go back to when Zachary was 11 years old.

Crimes and Courts
Orange County Clerk Expands Self Help Legal Services to Winter Park
Published
2 weeks agoon
April 1, 2025
WINTER PARK, Fla. (FNN) – Residents in need of affordable legal assistance can now access Self Help services at the Orange County Clerk of Courts’ new Winter Park location. This marks the second Self Help Center in Orange County, expanding affordable legal consultations beyond the main Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando.
Affordable Legal Help for the Community
Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell first introduced Self Help services in 2015 to support individuals who cannot afford an attorney but need legal guidance. The new Winter Park courthouse location continues that mission by providing low-cost legal consultations.
Attorney Consultations for Just $1 Per Minute
Residents can schedule a legal consultation for $1 per minute, available in 15-minute sessions, with a maximum of one hour per day. These services offer guidance on legal forms and procedures but do not include court representation.
What Legal Services Are Available?
The Self Help Center assists with:
Family Law Cases (excluding restraining orders):
Child Custody
Divorce
Paternity
Small Claims (for disputes under $8,000)
Residential Evictions
How to Access Self Help Legal Services
- Winter Park Courthouse: In-person consultations available on Thursdays
- Downtown Orlando Courthouse: In-person consultations available on Tuesdays
- Virtual Consultations: Available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) provides the attorneys for consultations. However, these attorneys cannot represent clients in court.
Additional Services Available:
- Legal Form Completion Assistance
- Notary Services
- Document Copy Services
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit the Orange County Clerk of Courts website at www.myorangeclerk.com.
Crimes and Courts
Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Poinciana Stabbing, Osceola Deputies Says
Published
1 month agoon
March 8, 2025
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) – A man is in custody after allegedly stabbing a woman multiple times in a violent attack early Friday morning, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a 911 call at approximately 1:20 a.m. on March 7, 2025, reporting a stabbing at a residence in Poinciana, Florida. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered a female victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. Authorities quickly identified Julio Ramos-Aleman as the suspect in the brutal attack.
According to investigators, Ramos-Aleman fled the scene in his vehicle before deputies arrived. Detectives immediately launched an investigation and secured an arrest warrant for Attempted Murder. Through rapid investigative efforts, they were able to track down Ramos-Aleman and take him into custody.
Ramos-Aleman has since been arrested for Attempted Murder and booked into the Osceola County Jail with no bond. Officials have not yet released further details about the victim’s condition or what may have led to the attack.
What’s Next?
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident. Authorities encourage anyone with additional information to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS to assist in the case.
Crimes and Courts
FBI Arrests LGBTQ+ Democrat Leader Matthew Inman on Child Porn Charges
Published
3 months agoon
January 25, 2025
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The arrest of prominent LGBTQ+ leader Matthew A. Inman, 39, has sent shockwaves through Central Florida. The suspended Orange County Democratic Party’s Treasurer and President of the Rainbow Democrats now faces federal charges of transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to the United States Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida.
Details of the Arrest and Charges
The FBI, as part of an extensive investigation, uncovered evidence that between August and October 2024, Inman received and stored multiple videos depicting child sexual abuse. These videos, stored on his phone, allegedly showed graphic acts of sexual assault on young children.
In October 2024, Inman traveled to Las Vegas, where he engaged in explicit online conversations with an undercover FBI officer posing as the father of a 9-year-old boy. **Inman expressed interest in meeting and sexually abusing the child, even going so far as to send additional CSAM videos to the undercover officer.**
When the FBI executed a search warrant at Inman’s Orlando residence, he attempted to delete evidence from his phone and hide in the attic. However, investigators were able to recover electronic devices containing incriminating material.
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the filing of a criminal complaint against Inman, charging him with the transportation of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, Inman faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
Responses from Organizations
Following Inman’s arrest, several organizations distanced themselves from him and issued strong statements condemning his alleged actions:
Orange County Democratic Party Statement in Response to the Arrest of Matthew Inman:
Statement by the Rainbow Democrats Board in Response to the Arrest of Matthew Inman:
Visit Orlando
The tourism organization, where Inman was previously employed, confirmed his termination, stating, We are devastated to learn of these allegations and have ended his employment with immediate effect.”
Key Highlights
– FBI arrested Matthew Inman on federal child pornography charges.
– Allegations include possession of CSAM and attempts to meet a child for sexual abuse.
– Organizations, including the Orange County Democratic Party and Rainbow Democrats, severed ties with Inman and condemned his actions.
– Case brought under Project Safe Childhood to combat child exploitation.
About Project Safe Childhood
This case was pursued under **Project Safe Childhood**, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child exploitation. The program unites federal, state, and local agencies to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in the sexual exploitation of children. It also focuses on identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood and how to report suspected exploitation, visit [www.justice.gov/psc](https://www.justice.gov/psc).
Ongoing Legal Process
It’s important to note that the charges against Matthew Inman are allegations at this stage. **A criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.**
This case remains under investigation by the FBI, and Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan is leading the prosecution.
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