Residents in Homosassa are officially on notice after the Citrus County Sheriff's Office issued a community alert Wednesday announcing that a registered sexual predator has established a home in the area. The bulletin identifies the man as Joseph Stevens and lists his qualifying conviction as lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12. Authorities say Stevens is under supervision in Citrus County and must follow a set of strict special conditions.
The alert lists Stevens' date of birth as October 30, 1976, and describes him as a white male, about 5'10" tall and roughly 200 pounds. According to the bulletin, he is on probation with a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., is required to wear a GPS monitor, and is barred from being in the presence of anyone under 18 without adult supervision. He is also prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of places where children gather, according to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office.
How Florida's Notification System Works
Under Florida law, sheriffs must alert the public when a designated sexual predator establishes a residence in their jurisdiction, and the state sets detailed rules for registration and supervision. The Florida sexual-offender registry, along with guidelines for how and when communities are notified, is maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The sheriff's bulletin also provides direct contacts for follow-up. It lists the Sexual Predator Unit phone number as (352) 527-6643 and names Criminal Offender Registration Specialist Joanne Amoroso, who can be reached at [email protected]. The agency urges anyone who witnesses behavior they believe is inappropriate to call deputies instead of confronting Stevens themselves, according to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. Deputies say they will be tracking his compliance with the conditions laid out in the notice.
What Neighbors Should Know
In Florida, designated sexual predators must periodically re-register in person and follow ongoing supervision rules. At the same time, the registry warns that using those public records to threaten or harass a registrant can itself be a crime. Those ground rules, and the mechanics of how public notification works, are spelled out by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Neighbors who suspect a violation of those conditions are encouraged to report it to the sheriff's office so deputies can investigate.
The sheriff's office is urging residents to stay vigilant, keep an eye out for potential violations, and channel any concerns through law enforcement instead of taking matters into their own hands. Deputies say they will continue to monitor Stevens' compliance and follow up on any tips that come in. Anyone with urgent concerns has been directed to call the Sexual Predator Unit at the number listed in the release.
