The accused man is in the Pasco County Jail and will be charged in the Weeki Wachee incident when released, according to the Hernando sheriff.

HERNANDO COUNTY – A Port Richey man is accused of a June attack in the Weeki Wachee Preserve that left one victim permanently scarred, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jorge Javier Soto, 20, of 9200 Greenbriar Lane in Port Richey, is in the Pasco County Jail accused of an unrelated crime, deputies said. He will be charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm and battery when he is released from custody in Pasco. Deputies said he admitted his involvment in the Weeki Wachee attack when they interviewed him.

The incident at the Weeki Wachee Preserve happend June 23, deputies said. It began when Soto and Emily Strand started arguing.

Soto became aggressive and approached Strand, who tried to push him away. Soto punched Strand, who lost consciousness and fell to the ground, deputies said. Several other people who had gone to the preserve with Strand and Soto came to her aid and tried to convince Soto to calm down. Deputies said Soto hit Markus Washington as he was helping Strand.

Darryl Washington tackled Soto to try stopping him from hurting Markus Washington and Strand. Deputies said Soto got up, pulled a gun and pointed it at Darryl Washington. Soto went on to strike Darryl Washington in the face with the gun. After the second strike, Darryl Washington collapsed and lost consciousness. Witnesses told deputies that Soto continued to strike him after he lost consciousness.

Shortly after this violent attack, Soto pointed the gun at Davion Sutton, another who had gone with the group to the Weeki Wachee Preserve. Sutton fled and was not injured.

As a result of the attack, Darryl Washington sustained cuts to his head and lip. Once healed, he will have permanent scarring, deputies said.

Soto was placed under arrest in Pasco County on an unrelated charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to Pasco County Jail records. He is still in the Pasco jail. When interviewed, deputies said, Soto admitted his involvement in the attack at the Weeki Wachee Preserve.

For information about the Hernando sheriff, go to hernandosheriff.org.

Hernando Sheriff | Weeki Wachee | Crime | TB Reporter

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