Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods is asking for the public’s help in catching an Ocala man who is wanted on multiple charges.
Woods, speaking during his regular “Wanted by Woods Wednesday” segment on Facebook, asked for help in finding 34-year-old Franky Elias Leyva. He is being sought on charges of aggravated battery on a pregnant person, battery by strangulation, false imprisonment and obstruction of justice.
“Citizens, I’m not even going to talk to Franky,” Woods said. “’Men’ who put their hands on a woman – a pregnant woman no less – isn’t a man. But they are someone we need off our streets.”
Woods added that Leyva beat up the victim by not only striking her but dragging her and choking her.
“I seriously doubt a person like him will do the right thing and turn himself in,” he said.
Anyone with information about Leyva or his whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352) 368-STOP (7867) and reference 21-02 in your tip. If you use Crime Stoppers and your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.