A cook at Margarita Republic who got caught up last year in a prostitution case has been sentenced in Lake County Court.
Jeffery Colon, 36, of Ocala, will have to undergo HIV and STD testing, pay $5,418 in court costs and will be on probation for two years following a sentencing hearing last week in Lake County Court. He pleaded no contest to charges of resisting arrest and solicitation of a prostitute.
Last year, Lady Lake police received a report from someone at Margarita Republic of a woman’s business card being circulated and advertising prostitution services. However, when police called the number on the business card, the woman told police that a vengeful ex-boyfriend had printed up the cards and was circulating them around the area.
Lady Lake police advised the woman to let them know if she was contacted by someone wanting prostitution services.
On Dec. 21, she let police know she had been contacted by a man and police set up a rendezvous at Race Trac service station on U.S. Hwy. 27/441. The man indicated via text message he wanted to meet her at 2 p.m. before he went to work and he would be in a green pickup truck by the vacuum cleaner.
Police arrived on the scene and approached the man, who immediately locked the doors of his vehicle and began screaming, “I didn’t do anything,” over and over. While officers attempted to arrest the man, identified as Colon, he allegedly tripped a police officer and pushed the officer to the ground, causing injury to the officer’s left elbow and knee.
Colon was found to be in possession of $1,880 in cash. Items found in his truck included condoms and the business card advertising the woman’s prostitution service.
The arrest report indicated that Colon was employed as a cook at Margarita Republic on Spanish Springs Town Square.
