FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. - Two Nassau County men are accused of vandalism after deputies say they destroyed much of a new hotel in Fernandina Beach. Leeper said the vandals broke windows, smashed appliances and set off fire extinguishers inside the hotel that was set to open soon. A total of 33 rooms, including the lobby area, was damaged, according to the arrest report. Now managers are dealing with an estimated $300,000 to $500,000 worth of damage. According to arrest reports, both suspects admitted to being a part of the mischief.

Two vandals are being blamed for causing up $500,000 in damage to a new Nassau County hotel, a month before its scheduled opening. Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said 21-year-old Rafael De Jesus Charriez and 20-year-old Sage Chrzanoski broke into the Hilton Home2 Suites hotel on Sadler Road in Fernandina Beach around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Some of the damage could be seen from the road Thursday as crews worked to clean up the mess left behind. Leeper provided cell phone video he said one of the burglars recorded as they were vandalizing the hotel. No one answered at either of their Fernandina Beach homes Thursday.

YULEE, Fla. – A man arrested after a Sunday morning fight in the parking lot of a Fernandina Beach bar two years ago was found not guilty Tuesday. Nassau County deputies called to Locals on Sadler Road on Feb. 10, 2019, in response to a report of shots fired about 2:30 a.m. Deputies were told a bystander was trying to break up a fight between a man and woman when the man drew a gun and opened fire at the bystander, the Sheriff’s Office said at the time. After an investigation, Garrett Lionel Gagnon was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. After two years of legal motions, the case went to trial on Tuesday -- the first jury trial since in-person trials resumed after the COVID-19 lockdown -- and Gagnon was found not guilty.