Jared Leone, a candidate for Clearwater City Council, is facing renewed attention over past allegations of stalking and harassment after records surfaced regarding petitions filed nearly a decade ago. The scrutiny comes as voters consider his candidacy ahead of the upcoming election, according to a May 28 report.
In 2017, Leone’s former girlfriend Jazmin Del Valle accused him of repeated harassment, including claims that he made threats and deflated car tires. Del Valle alleged in her petition for injunction that Leone repeatedly texted and called her, called her derogatory names, took photos of her from his home across the street, threatened her life and that of her partner, spit on their cars, and may have deflated tires. Her mother Cecilia Torres also filed a similar petition claiming stalking behavior by Leone at various locations. Both petitions were denied by the court due to insufficient evidence or lack of immediate danger.
Leone denied the allegations in a statement: “When dismissed allegations from nearly a decade ago are revived for political purposes, it doesn’t help victims, like me — it politicizes deeply serious issues that should never be exploited for advantage.” Court records show that Leone was granted an injunction after filing his own petition against Esteban Del Valle (Jazmin’s relative), Torres, and another individual following an altercation where he described being physically attacked. The court found him to be “a victim of repeat violence.”
The legal standard in Florida for granting protective orders requires proof of repeated conduct causing reasonable fear or harm; both rejected petitions against Leone relied mainly on personal accounts rather than direct documentation or witness testimony. Comparisons were drawn with other high-profile cases where similar petitions were denied despite concerning circumstances.
Leone’s history also includes a 2004 incident while attending the University of Florida when he pleaded guilty to throwing an icy beverage at someone who turned out to be a police officer. He did not serve jail time but completed community service or paid a fine instead. Addressing this incident amid current campaign attention, Leone said, “Matters from nearly twenty years ago — that weren’t an issue two years ago — suddenly become front-page news.”
Leone is running against Bianca Latvala for Seat 4 on Clearwater City Council; Latvala has outraised him financially and received several endorsements from local officials. As public comment periods have sometimes grown contentious at council meetings in recent years—leading even to temporary suspension—questions about candidates’ temperament have become part of voter considerations.
Florida Politics maintains facilities in St. Petersburg and delivers statewide coverage focused on campaigns, elections, government policy and lobbying activities as part of its new media platform under Extensive Enterprises Media ownership, according to the official website.
