Criminal Corner 8
Bradenton woman charged with sexually assaulting a man
Manatee Herald staff report
A 41-year-old Manatee County woman is facing a sexual assault charge after attacking a man, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say Jakeila Hawit-Castro physically assaulted the victim around 5:30 a.m. on June 23, and forced her fingers into the victim’s anus resulting in injury.
Hawit-Castro was booked into the Manatee County on charges of sexual battery, false imprisonment and battery by strangulation.
She remains in custody on bonds totaling $35,000.
Bradenton man arrested on child porn charges
A 34-year-old Bradenton man faces 30 felony child pornography possession charges, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say Kyle Ex was arrested just after 9 a.m. on June 21 in the 7400 block of 47th Avenue Circle East.
According to the arrest warrant, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contacted the sheriff’s office in May of 2021 and an investigation was launched.
Detectives attempted to make first contact with Ex in July of 2021 but were unsuccessful. While awaiting a search warrant to be signed, detectives received two more cyber tips regarding child pornography.
In March of this year, detectives executed the search warrant, seizing electronic devices. According to the warrant, more than 600 images and videos of potential child pornography were found to have been downloaded between February of 2021 and February of 2022.
The charges filed against Ex include images of children between the ages of 4 and 12 either being posed in sexually compromising positions or were being sexually abused by adult men and women.
Ex was booked into the Manatee County jail on June 21 and was released the same day after posting a $7,500 bond on each count.
Man robs cyclist at gunpoint
A 42-year-old Bradenton is charged with armed robbery after robbing a man on a bicycle, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say Armando McCarty approached the victim in the 800 block of 52nd Avenue West just before 9:30 p.m. on June 23.
McCarty asked to use the victim’s cell phone, to which he declined because the victim did not know McCarty, according to the arrest report.
Deputies say McCarty then pulled out a pistol and pointed it at the victim’s face, robbing him of his wallet and two necklaces.
According to the report, the victim watched McCarty run to a nearby mobile home where law enforcement responded, made contact and arrested McCarty.
McCarty was booked into the Manatee County jail where he remains in custody on a $100,000 bond.
Editor’s note: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges can be dropped or reduced during court proceedings.
