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WATCH LIVE at 11 a.m.: Marion County sheriff, state officials to unveil details of record-breaking child predator sting

News 6 to stream news conference

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods and Fire Chief James Banta of Marion County Fire Rescue hold a news conference about the arrests of four Marion County Fire Rescue employees. (Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

OCALA, Fla. – Marion County officials are set to hold a news conference Thursday morning to announce details of a child sex predator.

According to a news release from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the sting resulted in more than 50 arrests — making it the largest operation of its kind in the county’s history.

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The conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center.

Sheriff Billy Woods will be joined by a lineup of state officials, including Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Glass, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Howze, Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken, and representatives from Florida’s Fifth District Office of the State Attorney.


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