Hernando Man Sentenced in 2015 Manslaughter Case
Isaac Troy Lemons was sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison on November 7th in the death of 18-year-old Dylan Joseph Thornton. On Friday, August 23, 2024, jurors found the 31-year-old man guilty of Manslaughter and Sale of a Controlled Substance, marking the end of a protracted legal process following Thornton’s death in 2015.
Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson remarked, “This case is another example of a young life lost due to illicit drugs and the greed of others to make a profit. The defendant’s actions in dealing these deadly substances demonstrate not only a severe disregard of human life but also added another layer of danger to an already perilous situation.”
The case has been ongoing since Lemons’ arrest in connection with Thornton’s 2015 death. Thornton, who had recently celebrated his 18th birthday with friends, was reported missing in September of that year. His disappearance triggered a multi-day search led by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), which launched an investigation into Thornton’s last known movements. Tragically, on September 15, Thornton’s decomposed body was discovered along dunes near the Duke Energy transfer station in Spring Hill.
A subsequent autopsy performed by the Medical Examiner revealed the presence of Alpha-PVP, a powerful synthetic stimulant commonly known as “Flakka”—a compound chemically similar to the street drugs known as “bath salts.” The discovery turned the missing person’s case into a suspicious death investigation, drawing attention to the drugs circulating among young people in the region.
HCSO Detective Dustin Adkins, assigned to the case, traced Thornton’s last hours to a birthday party where a DJ had reportedly been hired to entertain the guests. That DJ, later identified as Lemons, allegedly brought what partygoers believed to be “Molly,” a street term for a form of MDMA or amphetamine. However, according to authorities, Lemons supplied “Flakka” instead, a far more potent substance. Shortly after the sale, Thornton and a friend left the party while under the influence, later becoming disoriented and eventually separating, at which point Thornton vanished.
The case first went to trial in the summer of 2021 but concluded with a hung jury, forcing prosecutors to prepare for a retrial. On August 19, 2024, three years after the initial trial, the retrial began in Hernando County, concluding with the guilty verdict on August 23. State prosecutors Robert Lewis and Melissa Underwood, representing the Fifth Judicial Circuit, credited the efforts of the HCSO and medical experts District 5 Medical Examiners Dr. Wolf and Dr. Goldberger, whose testimonies were instrumental in securing Lemons’ conviction.
Assistant State Attorney Robert Lewis expressed gratitude for the combined efforts that led to Lemons’ conviction, acknowledging the dedication of law enforcement officers and forensic experts who helped build the case. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office extended its thanks to the community for its patience and support throughout the investigation and legal proceedings.
In addition to the Manslaughter charge, Lemons was convicted of Selling, Delivery, or Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, receiving a five-year sentence. According to court records, the sentence for the drug-related conviction will run concurrently with the manslaughter charge.
Man receives consecutive life sentences
Joshua Reginald Velez will likely never see another day outside of prison. On October 24, Velez, formerly of Spring Hill, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for Sexual Battery of a Child under 12 Years Old by Hernando Circuit Court Judge Daniel Merritt Jr.
According to a news release by District Attorney Bill Gladson, Velez was convicted on September 5, when a jury found the 43-year-old man guilty of two counts of Sexual Battery upon a Child under 12 years of age by a Person in Familial Custody.
Speaking of the trial, Gladson said, “Justice was served today because a brave child found the courage to speak up, and a trusted adult chose to listen and act,” said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. “Protecting our children requires the vigilance and commitment of everyone in our community. We are grateful for the trust placed in us to bring this predator to justice.”
A law enforcement investigation revealed that Joshua Velez, 43, had sexually battered the child on a regular basis while the pair lived in Kentucky, Georgia, and Spring Hill, Florida. Velez gained guardianship of the child in 2017.
The Hernando Sun reported in September that the child stated that Velez initially treated him “better than his parents,” fed him well, and took care of him. The abuse began about one and a half years after Velez gained custody when the child was about ten years old.
Velez’s arrest came in December of 2020, following a Hernando County Sheriff’s Office investigation after the young victim disclosed to another adult the abuse committed by Velez. The adult then contacted law enforcement to report the crime.
Investigators made contact with the child, who told them about multiple incidents of sexual abuse by Velez, which occurred in three different states. Detectives determined through their investigation that Velez had been abusing his victim since the victim was 10 years old.
Other court actions
Stacey Lovell Barnes Jr. of Omaha Circle in Spring Hill appeared before Hernando County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Merritt Jr. on November 8, entering a No-Contest Plea to charges of Selling, Manufacturing, or Delivering a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Paraphernalia. The plea allowed Barnes to avoid a jury trial, which had been scheduled for November 12. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 5.
On October 28, Cornelius Monray Merriweather Jr. of Okee, FL, entered a plea of No Contest on multiple drug charges, including two charges of Selling, manufacturing, or possessing cocaine with intent to deliver. Merriweather, whose jury trial had been scheduled to begin on October 28, was remanded into custody pending sentencing on December 15 by Circuit Court Judge Daniel Merritt Jr.
Jessica Anne Brannock was sentenced to three years of probation on November 8 after being found guilty of Child Neglect Causing Great Bodily Harm. Should Brannock fail to complete probation, the sentence would default to three years in prison. Brannock was arrested on the charge in April 2023 and remained in jail until her recent court date.
