By Staff Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At age 35, Ernest Rayford Lara Jr. has received an 18-month prison term after pleading no contest to several charges, including three drug-related felonies, possession of an illegal firearm, and two misdemeanors.

Lara’s legal troubles began with an arrest on August 11, 2025, stemming from a warrant issued following a search of his apartment on May 8, 2024. The initial warrant was part of an investigation into child pornography, targeting Joseph Carnes, who was apprehended during the search. Carnes later served a two-year sentence in state prison and was released on January 23, 2026.

During the search, officers discovered firearms, notably a short-barreled shotgun in Lara’s room, prompting them to secure an additional warrant. This led to the discovery of a THC wax machine, 47.5 grams of marijuana, 17.5 grams of cocaine, a 9mm pistol, a High Point 10mm rifle, magazines, and ammunition. To evade an arrest warrant from Orange County, Lara initially provided a fake name to authorities.

Initially, Lara faced charges including two counts of drug possession with intent to sell, maintaining a property for drug sales, illegal possession of a short-barreled shotgun, drug paraphernalia possession, and providing false identification to police. At his arrest, Lara had a prior non-violent felony and two misdemeanor convictions, one of which was violent, while also facing a misdemeanor battery charge in Hernando County.

On January 29, Lara pleaded no contest to all six charges. The plea agreement indicated a potential maximum sentence of 52 years. Judge James Colaw handed down four concurrent 18-month state prison sentences for the felony charges, considering 72 days already served. For the misdemeanors, Lara received two concurrent 72-day jail sentences, with full credit for time served.