On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Cottondale man Juan-Luis Cervantes pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Firearm and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition and will serve 20 years in the Department of Corrections followed by 10 years of probation.
On March 13, 2023, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call that a victim had been shot in the head at Juan-Luis Cervantes’ home just outside Cottondale. After further investigation, Cervantes was determined to have been the shooter but had fled the scene.
Later that day, JCSO dispatch received an anonymous tip that Cervantes’ vehicle was seen outside of Sneads. The vehicle was stopped, and Cervantes was arrested.
Sheriff Edenfield would like to thank the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Sneads Police Department and the State Attorney’s Office of the 14th Judicial Circuit for their assistance in bringing Cervantes to justice.
