The trial docket for the first week of March was light for the Hernando Circuit Court, but at least it was interesting. Aside from hearing pleadings, paperwork and the more mundane side of the judicial system, Judge Daniel B. Merritt Jr did preside over a few cases worthy of note:
Randy Lee Fredette of 106 Melody Lane, Largo, Florida was sentenced to 20.5 months in State Prison on a charge of Written Threats To Kill Or Do Bodily Injury on March 3, 2025. The sentence came following his June 2024 arrest on the charge. He was given credit for three months and 22 days of time served, and fined $1307 in costs and fees.
Fredette has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2008 in Hernando County. His record includes previous convictions of Battery, several counts of Theft, Resisting or Obstructing an Officer Without Violence, and Violating Pretrial Release Conditions-Domestic Violence.
Joelle Victoria Laskay of 7326 Toucan Trail, Spring Hill, Florida won a six-month stay at Hernando County’s Gray Bar Hotel following her sentencing on February 28, 2025, for Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Paraphernalia. As a bonus, she racked up $1324 in fines and fees.
The sentence wasn’t really a bad deal for Laskay, considering that she faced the same two charges back in 2023 and got off with a sentence of Withheld Adjudication (kind of like 6 months of double secret probation) on the Cocaine and 4 months of Time Served on the Paraphernalia charge. And then there was the fine and fees amounting to $1564, which, surprise…went to collections.
Anthony Raymond Maddox Jr. of 5138 Plantation Drive, Lakeland, Florida was scheduled for court on March 3, 2025, on a charge of Felony Fleeing Or Attempting To Elude A Law Enforcement Officer.
The problem is, Maddox, who was out on bond, did what he seems to do best…. he fled. Or at least he didn’t show up for court. That prompted the Honorable Judge Merritt to revoke Maddox’s $2000 bond. So now Maddox is doing his fleeing as a wanted man and the bond company has 60 days to catch up with him, or they are out $2000. And you know that won’t make them happy.
