A 57-year-old woman is the target of an active manhunt in Citrus County after she failed to show up for a court date tied to a felony charge of firing a weapon or missile into a dwelling. Melissa Tallent stands 6 feet tall and weighs 130 pounds, according to the description deputies have circulated as they ask the public for help finding her.
The Citrus County Sheriff's Office featured Tallent in its latest “Wanted of the Week” bulletin, a weekly public alert the agency uses to broadcast fugitive descriptions, photos, and warrant details in hopes of mobilizing tips from the community. The post identifies her as wanted specifically for failing to appear on the original charge, and the sheriff's office is asking anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward.
The underlying offense carries serious weight under state law. Firing a weapon or throwing a deadly missile into a dwelling or occupied building is a second-degree felony under Florida Statute § 790.19, according to the Florida Senate, punishable by up to 15 years in state prison, 15 years of probation, and a $10,000 fine. Notably, the legal definition of “missile” under that statute is broader than it sounds — Florida courts have interpreted it to cover not just bullets but thrown rocks, hard objects, or bottles capable of causing great bodily harm or death, regardless of whether anyone was actually injured or property was damaged, according to Hanlon Law.
A Second Felony Layered On Top
Missing a scheduled court date on a felony charge isn't just a procedural slip in Florida — it's its own separate crime. Under Florida Statute § 843.15, failing to appear for a felony case is a third-degree felony carrying up to five additional years in prison and a $5,000 fine, according to The Rodriguez Law Office. That means Tallent's no-show alone opened up fresh criminal exposure on top of whatever penalties the original weapons charge might carry.
When a defendant misses a required felony court appearance, the presiding judge typically issues what's known as an “alias capias” warrant. Per Stout Defense, P.A., that type of warrant revokes any prior release conditions and authorizes active law enforcement apprehension, without automatic entitlement to bail — a distinct and more serious mechanism than the bench warrants issued for minor misdemeanor absences.
How to Report a Tip
Anyone with information on Tallent's location can call the Citrus County Sheriff's Office directly at 352-249-2790. Tips can also be submitted anonymously around the clock through Crime Stoppers of Citrus County at 1-888-ANY-TIPS, or via the organization's web and mobile app channels, which offer cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest, according to Crime Stoppers of Citrus County.
Several open questions remain about the case, including the specific date, location, and circumstances of the original incident, and whether any property damage or injuries occurred. Court records from the Citrus County Circuit Court or a public records request filed with the CCSO Records Custodian would show whether an original bond was forfeited and exactly when the alias capias warrant was formally issued.
Part of a Broader Enforcement Pattern
Tallent's case fits a recurring pattern in Citrus County's public safety alerts. Recent “Wanted of the Week” postings have frequently featured suspects wanted on outstanding warrants tied to failures to appear or probation violations stemming from earlier felony charges, a trend Hoodline has tracked across several recent cases, including a search for a woman tied to a 2016 stabbing case and a separate hunt for a man wanted on a meth and fentanyl probation violation.
The sheriff's office, which has held state accreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation since 2000 and complies with more than 230 operational, investigative, and administrative standards, maintains recent arrest records on its public site for only 10 days. After that window closes, historical criminal records must be obtained through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the agency's records custodian under Florida's Chapter 119 public records law.
