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JULY 14 - JULY 20, 2023 | OCALA GAZETTE
Rashad Jones Continued from page A1 “One of my secrets,” he told the “Gazette,” “was the Mississippi Delta Blues Blueberry Barbecue Sauce, an ode to Uncle Leon (the inspiration behind Big Lee’s in Ocala),” Jones explained. The Big Lee’s co-founder had some other maneuvers. “I made a stove-top smoker, believe it or not,” he effused. “I smoked my wings, and then grilled them on a flat grill top to get some nice grill marks on there.” Jones, who combines experimentation with tradition, made a rustic slaw. “I didn’t go for your traditional, typical run-of-the-mill coleslaw that you can get from KFC or any other place,” he said with a laugh. “I introduced a new vibrant taste that had some bold flavors. I used dill, Greek yogurt, and I grilled some bok choy.” Jones also took a corn cob and cut it lengthwise into quarters. “I made what we call in the barbecue world, corn ribs,” he said, adding that he charred them and tossed them in a seasoned butter sauce. Celebrity judges Kardea Brown and Carson Kressley teamed up with guest judges Robbie Shoults, Hugh Mangum and Mama Tanya to choose Jones as the winner in both rounds of the episode. Ocala’s beloved barbecue man is the chef who now gets to shout, “I beat Bobby Flay!” Renowned for his Ocala-area food trucks, Jones had more news to share last
week: the grand opening on July 4 of his first Big Lee’s Serious About Barbecue brick-and-mortar location. One diner set up a tent and waited as early as 7 a.m. to be the first through the door, Jones said. The “quick-service” restaurant, at 2611 SW 19th Ave. Road, also called “Easy Street,” features an open kitchen and order counter. Jones said his employees are trained to explain menu items so customers don’t have get caught off guard or have to order under pressure. Located in a complex anchored by the Regal Hollywood 10 cinema, the eatery was once occupied by a Jimmy John’s and accommodates around 40 guests inside and 10 outside on a pet-friendly patio. Beer, wine, fountain drinks and Jones’ signature Big Lee’s Tea are available. The restaurant is named in honor of Leon “Big Lee” Archie from Greenwood, Mississippi; the uncle of Jones’ wife, Patrice, and co-owner of the eatery. The “genius smoker” apprenticed Jones shortly before he died in 2012. Jones honors Big Lee and keeps his memory alive, praising him for his “incredible skills” and the “unparalleled quality” of his ’cue. “Even though there’s a lot of good things happening, we’re still looking at how to continuously improve,” Jones assured. “Like I always say,” he continued, “anytime I do this stuff, it’s a win for my team. It’s a win for Ocala and what I call the whole Big Lee’s community.”
Ocala men plead guilty to postal robbery spree By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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wo Ocala men have pleaded guilty to their involvement in a spree of armed robberies of postal carriers across the state. Jacoby Jules Colon, 20, and Darius Rodney Capers, 19, worked together to rob three postal carriers at gunpoint through September and October of 2022, according to the United States Attorney’s Office. Colon was charged with and pleaded guilty to conspiring to rob postal carriers, armed postal robbery and brandishing a firearm to further a violent crime. Capers was charged with and pleaded guilty to conspiring to rob postal carriers and attempted robbery of a postal carrier, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. On Sept. 14, 2022, the pair robbed a postal carrier in Fort Lauderdale, then stole his “arrow key,” which can be used to open U.S. Postal Services boxes in a particular ZIP code. They then moved on to Orlando, when, on Oct. 4 and 6, 2022, they robbed two more postal carriers and also stole their arrow keys. Colon brandished a firearm in the final robbery, and Capers served as the getaway driver in
all three robberies. They attempted to rob a fourth carrier at the end of that month, but backed off when the carrier resisted, according to the release. Searches were conducted at the homes of both men in Ocala, as well as a hotel the men were staying at in Orlando. On Jan. 11, 2023, Capers’ Ocala home was raided and searched the Marion County Sheriff ’s Office (MCSO) and its SWAT team. “The residence was then relinquished to (United States Postal Inspection Service) investigators who located four handguns and a shotgun inside the location,” according to an incident report from MCSO detailing the search. Between the three locations, investigators found firearms, ski masks, stolen mail and fraudulent checks. The men said the purpose of the thefts was to commit check fraud, according to the release. Colon’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20, where he faces up to five years in federal prison for conspiracy, up to 25 years for robbery and up to a life sentence for the firearm offense, according to the release. Capers’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 18, where he faces up to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy, robbery and attempted robbery, according to the release.
Framework for Freedom invests over $25 million into College of Central Florida By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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File photo: The bell tower at the College of Central Florida in Ocala on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
he “Framework for Freedom” budget approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis will invest more than $25 million to the College of Central Florida (CF) to support the growing workforce. Framework for Freedom, signed in mid-June by DeSantis, budgets funds for tax relief, environmental protections, debt reduction, education, military and veteran protections, emergency management, public safety and the economy, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The money for CF is a fraction of the budget’s $1.7 billion investment in state operating funds for the Florida College System. The state holds Public Education Capital Outlay funds which will be disbursed to the college once they’re reserved for expenses, according to CF spokesperson Lois Brauckmuller. In addition to the increased operations budget, money will be allocated toward three projects at the college that aim to serve Marion, Levy and Citrus counties by growing their workforces, according to a
press release from CF. The Equine Studies and Agribusiness program, located at CF’s Vintage Farm campus in Ocala, will receive $1.6 million for new equipment. This campus houses classes for both associate and bachelor’s degree programs in equine studies, agribusiness, organizational management in agribusiness and applied science in business, according to the CF website. The college will also receive $17.4 million to help fund the construction of a Criminal Justice Instruction Center. The center is still in very early stages of planning, so no details about the location or programs to be offered are available at this time, said Brauckmuller. An investment of $6.4 million will go toward the renovation of Building 19 on the campus, which houses the Emergency Medical Services programs. These programs offer courses to become a paramedic, EMS or EMT, which can be applied to a degree, according to the CF website. “The College of Central Florida appreciates the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature and Department of Education through the Framework for Freedom Budget,” according to the press release.
Leader calls for ‘unity’ and ‘education’ A recent NAACP membership meeting included remarks about the death of AJ Owens and homicides in the community so far this year. By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
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jike “AJ” Owens, whose shooting death on June 2 in Marion County has drawn national attention, was hailed as a civil rights martyr by the president of the local chapter of the NAACP at a meeting Sunday night, July 9. “AJ Owens was a civil rights martyr like Emmett Till and many others who died for no reason. ‘AJ’ had her civil rights snatched away (when) Susan Lorincz brutally murdered her,” said James Stockton, president of the Marion County Chapter of the NAACP. Stockton referenced federal hate crime charges. The remarks were made during the NAACP membership meeting at Ramah Baptist Church near Belleview. Stockton’s remarks focused on the “atmosphere in the community” after Owens’ killing and a rash of shooting deaths in the community. The city of Ocala has had four homicides to date in 2023, all Black males;
one was stabbed, the others were shot, according to Ocala Police Department Public Information Officer Jeffrey Walczak. The Marion County Sheriff ’s Office (MCSO) has investigated 10 homicides so far this year, including the deaths of three teens in the Ocala Forest Area, according to Public Information Officer Zach Moore. MCSO has released information on eight cases—six were shooting deaths and the manner of death was not identified in two cases; four victims were identified as white and four Black. Stockton indicated the shooting deaths other than Owens’ may “not necessarily involve civil rights” but he charged the local NAACP members to “shift from reactive to proactive” and called for “unity” and “education” and in the Black community. Stockton also spoke at a National Day of Righteous Outrage held Saturday July 8. Attorney Anthony Thomas, of Florida, cocounsel representing Owens’ family along with well-known civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, had issued a statement inviting the community to the event. Crump also spoke at the gathering on Saturday. Stockton
said he saw a number of community leaders and activist at the event who were announced as being from Ocala, but he was “not aware of the great social and community work that they were doing.” He stated in a follow up question he saw a need to unify efforts among local leaders and groups. Lorincz was arrested June 6. Stockton reviewed several points listed in the arrest document, including that she bought two guns for “protection” during her ongoing dispute with Owens over Owens’ children playing in a field adjacent to her residence; when Lorincz was asked in an interview if Owens tried to turn the doorknob, she said Owens “was just beating the door”; and Lorincz admitted Google-ing “stand your ground” law information. The charging document states that on the night of the shooting Lorincz felt she was in “mortal danger.” In a June 26 press release, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson stated, “Lorincz has been charged with one count of manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault. Lorincz faces up to 30
years in prison on the charges.” Lorincz remains in the Marion County Jail in lieu of $154,000 bond. The MCSO charging document stated, “there is probable cause for simple battery by throwing a roller skate at juvenile and probable cause for two counts of simple assault for swinging an umbrella at juvenile” and Lorincz “admitted to having used the n-word toward children out of anger in the past and also to calling children other derogatory terms.” Stockton said Owens was defending her children like a “mama bear … because protecting your children transcends race. What would any parent regardless of race have done differently.” Stockton told the group the Black community should closely study laws like the justified use of deadly force law known as stand your ground, which some shooters “hide behind,” and to know their elected officials in order to call for more oversight. On Monday, July 10, during an appearance in court, Lorincz pleaded not guilty. Stockton said he was not surprised by the plea.