A Central Florida man accused in a violent 2022 crime spree is expected to plead guilty Thursday in Lake County court, a move that would resolve only one piece of a sprawling, two-county case while leaving a separate murder charge in Volusia County hanging in the balance.
Prosecutors say 22-year-old Jonny Santiago is scheduled to appear Thursday morning and is expected to enter a guilty plea to Lake County counts, according to WFTV. Those counts include allegations that Santiago shot at deputies during a multi-county pursuit and crashed his truck into the Traditional Congregation of Mount Dora.
The 2022 chase and synagogue crash
The case traces back to July 2022, when Volusia detectives said Santiago was connected to a suspicious incident in Deltona and then led officers on a pursuit that crossed county lines, according to a news release from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say the chase ended in Mount Dora when Santiago exchanged gunfire with officers, and his truck struck the synagogue. Family members later located the body of Santiago’s father near Lake Avalon, ClickOrlando reported.
Plea covers Lake County charges only
The plea deal expected Thursday would apply only to the Lake County counts and would not resolve a separate murder charge in Volusia County, WFTV notes. If the judge signs off on Santiago’s plea, the court would move ahead to sentencing on the Lake County charges while the Volusia case remains very much alive.
Court delays, competency evaluations and custody
Defense attorneys and court-appointed doctors have repeatedly raised concerns about Santiago’s mental fitness to stand trial, and the case has hit multiple delays while he underwent mental-health evaluations. At times, doctors found him not mentally ready for trial. Santiago has remained in custody without bond since his 2022 arrest, according to ClickOrlando.
What happens next
The judge will decide at Thursday’s hearing whether to accept the plea and set a sentencing date for the Lake County counts. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office says it obtained a second-degree murder warrant in 2022 and that its investigation remains active, so separate proceedings in Volusia could still be ahead for Santiago, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
