HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – A Spring Hill man is back in custody just 12 days after finishing a six-year prison term, all because he allegedly blew past a strict 48-hour deadline to get a valid Florida ID.
Dwane Anthony Gomes, 49, was arrested at his El Prado Avenue home on May 28, 2026, by Hernando County Detective Marcacci. According to law enforcement records, Gomes faces a felony charge of failing to update or renew his state identification card within the mandatory two-day window following his release from prison.
Gomes had just been released from custody on May 16, 2026, and placed under conditional release supervision. Because of his prior convictions for the sale, manufacture, or delivery of heroin, alongside resisting an officer with violence, the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court previously designated him as both a Habitual Violent Offender and a Prison Releasee Reoffender.
Under Florida law, these designations classify him as a “Career Offender,” triggering strict registration and tracking requirements.
Chief among those rules is a ticking clock: released career offenders must secure a valid Florida driver’s license or photo ID within 48 hours of regaining their freedom.
The issue came to light on May 28, when Detective Marcacci ran Gomes’ name through the National Crime Information Center and state motor vehicle databases. The digital paperwork revealed that Gomes’ Florida ID card had actually been expired since October 10, 2017.
When the detective knocked on Gomes’ door later that day and asked to see a valid ID, Gomes reportedly admitted he did not have one.
Gomes was immediately arrested and booked into the Hernando County Detention Center. He is currently being held on a no-bond status.
Authorities are still asking anyone with additional information on this case to reach out to Hernando County Crime Stoppers. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling 1-866-990-TIPS, dialing TIPS from a mobile phone, or visiting hernandocountycrimestoppers.com. Information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000.
READ: U-Haul, K-9s, And Swampy Surrender: Multi-County Chase Snares Violent Felon In Florida Pond
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