Four individuals have been sentenced to a combined 38 years in prison for a string of burglaries and vandalism at Florida state parks, Attorney General James Uthmeier and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced today.
Chandler Parrish Ellison, Alyssa Michelle Brewer, Aaron Tyler Higgins, and Kayly Dawn Burns were charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, armed burglary, and other offenses related to burglarizing ranger stations at state parks from Central Florida into South Georgia. All four defendants pleaded guilty.
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“Thanks to the cooperative work of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and our Statewide Prosecutors, four individuals who burglarized state parks will serve a collective 38 years behind bars,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Florida parks showcase and preserve the natural beauty of this state, and I thank Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Robert Miller and FWC for pursuing justice and protecting our parks.”
FWC Executive Director Roger Young echoed the sentiment, stating, “The collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies have been instrumental in bringing these individuals to justice and mitigating further threats to public property and visitor safety within state parks. The FWC and the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution remain committed to upholding the integrity of Florida’s natural resources and ensuring the safety and security of park visitors and personnel.”
The investigation began in the fall of 2022 after numerous state parks in North Florida reported burglaries of ranger stations, including thefts of money, equipment, and merchandise. Vandalism and theft from honor boxes near park entrances were also reported.
Sentencing Details:
- Chandler Parrish Ellison: Pleaded guilty on September 27, 2024, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
- Alyssa Michelle Brewer: Pleaded guilty on December 20, 2024, and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
- Kayly Dawn Burns: Pleaded guilty on February 13, 2025, and was sentenced to 7 years in prison.
- Aaron Tyler Higgins: Pleaded guilty on March 13, 2025, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
The public is encouraged to report any state park violations to the FWC through various channels, including the FWC Wildlife Alert app, texting 847411 with the keyword FWC, calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC, or submitting a tip online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert.
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