Tuesday, Jan. 6: Conviction Review + Officer Arrest + Motorsports Project
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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Integrity unit halted review of Ferrell murder conviction.
A review of a 1993 Jacksonville murder conviction has raised new concerns about the integrity of a decades-old case. Ronnie Ferrell, convicted alongside two others for the killing of 17-year-old Gino Mayhew, alleged that police relied on unreliable jailhouse informants and a key witness later discredited for perjury. The Fourth Judicial Circuit’s conviction-integrity unit began investigating but abruptly halted its review in 2023, citing a co-defendant’s pending death penalty appeal. Critics argue this undermines the unit’s mission to correct wrongful convictions. Ferrell remains imprisoned for life.
JSO veteran officer Goethe charged with DUI in St. Johns.
A veteran Jacksonville police officer has been charged with driving under the influence after being stopped in St. Johns County. Raymond Goethe, a 28-year member of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, was off-duty and in a personal vehicle when a deputy pulled him over late Tuesday on U.S. Highway 1. Following a roadside interview, Goethe was arrested and taken to the St. Johns County jail. He’s since been reassigned from patrol duty while the case proceeds. Goethe is the first JSO employee arrested in 2026.
Nassau eyes 600-acre Rahal-designed North Florida Motorsports Park.
Plans for a 600-acre motorsports complex in Nassau County are moving forward, with developers under contract to purchase land near I-95 and County Road 108. Dubbed the North Florida Motorsports Park, the project includes a racetrack designed by Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, along with trackside homes, a hotel, and a private club. Developers aim to begin rezoning within six months and complete the first phase in two years. While financial incentives haven’t been requested yet, infrastructure support is possible. The site would complement Nassau’s car culture and attract affluent buyers.
St. Johns tweaks impact fees, adds conservation; tourism scaled back.
St. Johns County is recalibrating how it manages growth, with recent changes to impact fees reflecting shifting priorities. In December, commissioners approved waivers on non-school impact fees for qualifying affordable housing, alongside a new fee dedicated to conservation and open space. Meanwhile, commercial construction is booming, surpassing $1 billion in permitting value for fiscal year 2025. The surge follows population growth and a need to balance the county’s tax base. On the tourism front, the Nights of Lights event was scaled back after overwhelming crowds, despite its economic importance.
Judge tosses lawsuit as Fernandina paid parking vote nears.
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block the launch of a paid parking program in downtown Fernandina Beach. The suit, filed by the political action committee Citizens Against Paid Parking, was thrown last week by Nassau County Circuit Court Judge Marianne Aho, who ruled the challenge was premature. The City Commission is expected to take a final vote on the ordinance today, which would allow paid parking to begin this spring. A voter referendum in August could still overturn the plan.
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