Live Oak Police Department
Contributor
On Thursday, April 3, the Live Oak Police Department (LOPD) responded to a complaint of lewd, lascivious sexual misconduct involving a minor child. As officers were en route, the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office dispatchers relayed information from the victim's mother and the original complainant that the incident had just occurred, and the suspect was leaving the area on foot when he discovered law enforcement had been contacted.
The suspect was known to the mother and identified as Kevin James Gary, a 45-year-old from Live Oak. Officers responding to the call were familiar with Gary from previous law enforcement interactions. LOPD Sgt. Gerald Butler discovered Gary on his way to the call. Gary initially tried to conceal himself from Sgt. Butler by hiding behind a large pecan tree and then resisted Sgt. Butler's commands to stop. As Sgt. Butler began trying to place Gary in hand restraints, Gary continued to struggle and refused to cooperate with law enforcement commands. Gary was in possession of an open can of beer during this portion of the encounter. Gary was apprehended and taken into custody, initially for resisting or obstructing a law enforcement officer in the lawful performance of his duties. Gary spontaneously stated during this time that he had kissed the minor child.
Investigator Jeramie Cheshire responded to the scene and conducted preliminary interviews with the victim, the mother of the victim and a third witness who was present in the room during the event. By sworn statements, it was reported that Gary allegedly exposed his sexual organ to the minor child and solicited the minor child to engage in sexual intercourse. Further, it was reported that Gary was touching, groping and kissing the victim while trying to solicit sexual conduct. Detective Cheshire delivered the child and mother to Child Protective Team Services for further investigation and evidence collection.
Gary was arrested and charged with resisting or obstructing a law enforcement officer, lewd and lascivious conduct by exposure of sexual organs to a minor child, and lewd and lascivious conduct by soliciting a minor child to engage in sexual activity. He was delivered to the Suwannee County Jail, where he is awaiting criminal proceedings.
The names of the victim, a 15-year-old minor child, and other witnesses, as well as the scene location, are currently being withheld from this release to protect the identity of the victim and the integrity of the ongoing criminal investigation.Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Hundreds of people lined up throughout multiple locations in Suwannee County on Thursday, March 13, as Farm Share volunteers passed out boxes of nutritional items to families in need of food assistance.
The lines at the Live Oak First Methodist Church began to queue as volunteers put bags together that contained nutritious foods for families to enjoy. Although the distribution didn’t start until noon, the work for the volunteers started around 6 a.m., when trucks began delivering the food to the multiple locations throughout Suwannee County where the distributions took place. According to Lori Fournier, the Farm Share drive had around 60 to 70 volunteers helping at various locations.
Distribution locations were set up at the Methodist Church, the Wellborn Community Association, Friendship Baptist Church, the McAlpin Community Center, O’Brien Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Dowling Park.
“We’ve been busy so we can make sure the residents can be fed,” volunteer Krystal Detty said. Detty, with the help of her nonprofit organization, Livin’ Like Larry Farm Sanctuary, assisted in carrying bags of cat food to the Methodist Church.
Fournier stated she and Kin Weaver have organized for the Farm Share distribution, which have been held a few times a year since 2023 and has helped an estimated 900 to 950 residents each time.
“There is a lot of gratitude and appreciation from these families that participate,” Fournier said. “There is so much need in our county.”
She said that there are plans to have three more in 2025, excluding during the summer. “We will do it about every three months,” Fournier said.
The community reception has been positive, and despite the long lines that queue up, most everyone looks forward to getting the help they receive. “This is such a blessing,” a woman said as Farm Share volunteers were loading up her car.