A man, released six years after he was accused of “brutally” stabbing a 6-year-old boy in Kentucky, was arrested in Marion County for parole violation and extradited to Kentucky. – A man, released six years after he was accused of “brutally” stabbing a 6-year-old boy in Kentucky, was arrested in Marion County on a parole violation charge and extradited to Kentucky.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the extradition of Ronald Exantus, 42, alongside Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVay, State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit Bill Gladson and Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods on Tuesday in Ocala.
Exantus was arrested following a tip that he failed to register as a convicted felon with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies learned that Exantus was living less than 40 yards from Sunrise Elementary School and a few blocks away from Horizon Academy.
“When it comes to children, Florida’s going to do everything possible to protect them,” Woods said.
Exantus was accused of stabbing 6-year-old Logan Tiptop in 2015.
A jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity but convicted him of two counts of second-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree assault.
“I believe the insanity defense is often abused. It allows people to evade accountability and get out early, and it impedes the work of prosecutors who stick their necks out and go face-to-face with dangerous criminals every day in the courtroom,” Uthmeier said.
Exantus was initially sentenced to serve 20 years in prison, but was released early and put on parole after spending seven years behind bars in Kentucky.
Upon his release, he came to Florida, but according to Woods, he failed to register as a felon with the MCSO within 48 hours.
He was taken to the Marion County jail and extradited to Kentucky, where he will face the consequences of failing to maintain the terms of his early release.