Kissimmee man arrested on child sex abuse material charges

A 21-year-old Kissimmee man is facing 100 felony charges after an investigation by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office revealed he was storing and sharing child and animal sexual abuse material.

The arrest stems from a tip police say they received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which alerted the sheriff’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit to the alleged activity.

Detectives on July 16 identified Melvin Echevarria-Alvarez, 22, as the suspect and arrested him two days later. ICAC detectives interviewed Echevarria-Alvarez and subsequently executed a search warrant at his residence at Vineland Landings Apartments in Kissimmee.

According to the sheriff’s office, Echevarria-Alvarez was charged with 96 counts of possession of photos or videos depicting the sexual performance of a child, two counts of possession of computer-generated child sexual abuse and two counts of possession of bestiality material. He is being held without bond at the Osceola County Jail.

Kissimmee man charged with murder in July motel shooting

A Kissimmee man has been charged with first-degree murder after authorities say he shot a man on July 7 during a confrontation and then tried to dismantle and hide the evidence.

Kissimmee police arrested George Bernal, 37, in connection with the fatal shooting of Jordan Hill, 34, who was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest in the parking lot of the Ambassador Inn on West Vine Street. Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, Hill was pronounced dead at HCA Osceola Medical Center later that night. Detectives later found spent shell casings from a .22-caliber firearm near the scene of the shooting.

According to a detailed arrest affidavit released by the Kissimmee Police Department, surveillance footage and witness statements ultimately led police to Bernal.

Hotel security video showed a man wearing a yellow shirt and face covering and carrying a satchel, ride up on an electric bike shortly before the shooting. Hill — known locally by the nickname “Mississippi”— was seen engaging with the suspect outside Room 121 before collapsing to the ground. The suspect then struck Hill several times on the head while he was on the ground before riding away and then returning briefly to pick up an object before fleeing.

Witnesses told police tension had been brewing between Hill and Bernal’s brother Javier – also known as “Chino” – who both were reportedly involved in street-level drug activity and had been competing for a woman who was staying in the room. The woman later identified George Bernal in a photo lineup as the shooter.

Detectives used cellphone records, traffic camera footage and surveillance from several nearby motels to track Bernal’s movements the night of the shooting. Just minutes after Hill was gunned down, George Bernalwas seen riding his bicycle through the rear of Plaza Del Sol toward his residence located about a mile from the crime scene.

Authorities also executed a search warrant on George’s cellphone. Although he initially denied involvement, data from his phone showed he had searched for terms including “Kissimmee shooting 2025,” “Shooting at Ambassador Inn,” and “Tuttio serial number on bike” — the brand of electric bicycle linked to the murder. Investigators noted KPD never issued a public press release about the shooting, suggesting that Bernal’s search terms indicated knowledge only someone closely involved would have.

In addition to George Bernal’s arrest on a charge of first-degree murder with a firearm, Javier Bernal was taken into custody on unrelated charges. During his police interview, Javier acknowledged tensions with Hill and admitted calling George before the shooting, but denied knowing the situation would turn deadly.

George Bernal is currently being held without bond at the Osceola County Jail. 

Poinciana woman charged with DUI manslaughter

A 30-year-old Poinciana woman has been arrested for DUI manslaughter for allegedly causing a fatal crash last fall that killed a Kissimmee man when her SUV slammed head on into a passenger bus on South Poinciana Boulevard.

Jessenia Chavez was booked Wednesday in connection with the Sept. 7, 2024 early-morning collision that killed bus passenger Robert Brunelle, 34. Chavez faces a minimum mandatory sentence of four years imprisonment if convicted.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Chavez had been returning home from Orlando around 2 a.m. when she crossed into the northbound lane of South Poinciana Boulevard just north of Yorkshire Lane. Troopers say Chavez’s white 2018 Hyundai Tucson SUV first passed another vehicle before veering into oncoming traffic and striking a 2019 Ford Econoline bus carrying two passengers. The bus driver told investigators he saw Chavez’s SUV swerve into his lane and honked his horn before trying to avoid the crash. Despite his attempt, the SUV struck the front left of the bus, causing it to overturn onto its right side and come to rest on the shoulder. Chavez’s SUV also ended up on the shoulder.

Brunelle, who was seated in the left rear of the bus and not wearing a seat belt, suffered fatal blunt force trauma to the torso. He was transported to Osceola Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The other bus occupants — including the driver and a second passenger who were both wearing seatbelts — survived the crash with minor injuries.

Toxicology reports later confirmed Chavez had a blood alcohol level of 0.10, above Florida’s legal limit of 0.08. Investigators also estimated her speed at the time of the crash to be between 62-67 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone.

Authorities additionally noted that the bus driver’s license had been suspended at the time of the crash. He was cited for unknowingly driving with a suspended license.

Kissimmee man arrested for child porn possession

Osceola County Sheriff’s investigators have arrested a Kissimmee man after child sexual abuse material was allegedly found to be stored and shared from his home.

Justin Paul Vail, 35, was taken into custody Thursday following a search warrant executed at Sun Lake Condominiums in Kissimmee by members of the sheriff’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit.

The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities to suspicious file-sharing activity involving child sexual abuse material. Detectives identified Vail as the suspect and gathered evidence that led to his arrest.

Vail has been charged with 10 counts of possession of photo/video of sexual performance by a child. He was booked into the Osceola County Jail with no bond.

The ICAC unit is part of a national task force dedicated to tracking, investigating and apprehending individuals who exploit children online. Authorities are asking anyone with additional information related to this case or similar incidents to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-348-2222.