State attorney’s office amends charges in hazing incident
One former Marion County Fire Rescue employee will not face charges; three others will face modified charges.
The Marion County Judicial Center in Ocala. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
Charges have been dropped against one former Marion County Fire Rescue employee and modified for the three others in connection with an alleged hazing incident that reportedly turned violent last November, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
The defendants, Kaylee Bradley, 25; Edward Kenny III, and Seth Day, both 22; and, Tate Trauthwein, 19; were arrested Nov. 25, 2025, and charged by a Marion County Sheriff’s Office detective following the hazing of a fellow firefighter on Nov. 16, 2025, at Marion County Fire Rescue Station 21, at 7884 S.W. 80th St., Ocala.
Walter Forgie, Chief Assistant State Attorney with the office of State Attorney William Gladson wrote in an email on Feb. 15 that the state has decided “not to charge” Bradley, who was initially charged with robbery and principal/accessory to robbery.
Kenny, Day and Trauthwein, first charged with kidnapping, robbery and battery, now each face false imprisonment and battery charges, the email stated.
According to Florida statutes online, kidnapping is a first degree felony punishable by a jail term of up to life or 30 years while false imprisonment is a third degree felony punishable by a sentence of up to five years.
“Our office spent considerable time reviewing the available evidence and continued to collect evidence that was not available at the time of arrest, until the charges were filed on February 5th,” Forgie wrote.
“While there was probable cause for all the arrested charges, given the totality of circumstances, after further consideration of her cooperation with the investigation and available evidence, the State made the decision not to charge Kaylee Bradley “ Forgie stated.
“Based on a thorough review of the evidence pertaining to the other three defendants, the State made the decision to charge those defendants with false imprisonment and battery,” Forgie wrote.
Bradley served as a paramedic; the three others served as EMTs and Trauthwein and Day were firefighters.
A Nov. 26, 2025, MCSO press release detailed the incident which led to the charges.
The incident began as hazing of an employee but escalated after the unidentified victim went to get his boots, which Trauthwein allegedly threw into woods adjacent to the fire station. The victim then fell to the ground after he was allegedly grabbed by Kenny. Kenny and Day were accused of holding the victim while Trauthwein removed his belt and his pants fell down. The incident allegedly continued with Trauthwein and Bradley taking the victim’s phone and making attempts to unlock it with a code, according to the release.
The incident allegedly included Trauthwein whipping the victim with the belt and covering his face with a towel and pouring water on it, referred to as “waterboarding,” with Kenny and Day accused of holding the victim, the release noted.
Online court documents indicate Day had four arraignment dates and now has a pre-trial conference set for March 24. Kenny and Trauthwein had four arraignments and a hearing and are scheduled for March 24 pre-trial conferences.
Emails sent on Feb. 17 seeking comments from the three attorneys listed online as representing the three remaining defendants were not immediately returned.
The “Gazette” has reported previously on this topic, including:
Investigation paints a picture of deeper culture problems at MCFR | Ocala Gazette
Trial by fire station: when public safety officials and media forget due process | Ocala Gazette
Four MCFR first responders lose jobs, will face charges | Ocala Gazette
Support community journalism
The first goal of the Ocala Gazette is to deliver trustworthy local journalism so corruption, misinformation and abuse are not hidden from the public or unchallenged.
