Man arrested 42 times, two women charged with new drug offenses

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Three people in Okeechobee are under arrest for drug-related offenses. Until their arrest a few days ago, all three were at large, although they had already been arrested several times.

These three people arrested on drug charges are no strangers to the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office. One of them has been arrested more than 40 times.

According to a prosecutor, stricter laws are needed to keep criminals behind bars longer.

“I often look at a person's criminal record and wonder, 'What the hell is this person like on the street?'” said Tom Bakkedahl, district attorney for the 19th Judicial District.

On August 20, heavily armed sheriff's deputies responded to a home on NW 6th Street in Okeechobee and arrested three Okeechobee residents on drug charges.

• Brittany Alfonso, 36
• Cory Jenkins, 34
• Brandy Yorke, 45

“I mean, it was very busy there, both in terms of traffic and people coming and going,” said a neighbor, Rosa Aguilar.

Aguilar, who is a mother of five young children, said she was glad officers made the arrests.

“I think it's really good that it's gone because nobody needs it. Who needs fentanyl? Fentanyl is killing everyone,” she said.

According to the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office, all three people have multiple arrests. Alfonso was arrested 12 times, Jenkins 42 times and Yorke 19 times.

And yet they were still on the streets.

“I think that's ridiculous. I think they need more time. They're just going to keep coming out and keep doing what they're doing,” Aguilar said.

See also: One dead after Brightline collides with car on tracks in Palm Beach Gardens

Bakkedahl says most of her previous arrests were for misdemeanors that do not carry a long prison sentence. Bakkedahl says Jenkins was sent to prison three times. One sentence was 18 months. The other two sentences were two years each.

“For a drug offense, you must have been convicted of drug offenses up to 18 times before you receive a prison sentence,” Bakkedahl said.

He says it's time for Florida lawmakers to toughen drug charges and impose longer prison sentences.

“I think we punish violent criminals appropriately under the law. But I think there's something missing with these drug offenses. The system doesn't have enough resources to combat this repeat behavior. I mean, I think we've become too tolerant of this problem, and I think the laws can be adjusted to combat it more,” Bakkedahl said.

The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office declined our request for an on-camera interview.

CBS12 News reached out to the two state legislators who represent Okeechobee County. They did not respond to a request for comment or an interview.