Molino Man Arrested With 1.5 Pounds Of Meth In Undercover Drug Bust
January 30, 2020
A Molino man was charged after being busted in an undercover drug operation with nearly a pound and a half of meth.
Johnnie Antawn Lee, Jr. was booked into the Escambia County Jail for felony trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lee arrived at agreed upon location and knocked on the front door of the residence. He was let inside and immediately detained by awaiting members of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.
During a search of the Gucci bag Lee was wearing across his chest, deputies located 658.8 grams (1.45 pounds) of meth and a digital scale, according to an arrest report. Deputies also seized $1,959 in currency from Lee.
Lee was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $32,250 bond.
Company Files Suit Against Century Over Unpaid $19K Bill
January 30, 2020
A consulting company has filed suit against the Town of Century over an unpaid invoice that totals over $19,000.
In 2008, City Services, Inc. (CSI) entered into a contract with the town to provide consulting, maintenance and repair services to the town’s natural gas system. The town contracted with the company for an annual natural gas leak survey, pipeline evaluations, testing, rate reviews and other services. Without a timely termination notice, the agreement renewed annually.
According to a City Services bill dated January 8, 2020, the town fell behind on their $1,200 per month bill in October 2018 and last made a payment in December 2018. The bill has continued to accrue and with finance charges stands at $19,287.19.
In their lawsuit against the town, CSI claims they provided services to the town, but the town did not pay and did not object to the invoices. CSI is seeking $19,287.19 plus reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.
At a recent meeting, the town council voted to have town attorney Matt Dannheisser attempt to settle the lawsuit for a lesser amount. Council President Ann Brooks said an email from Dannheisser to the council suggested the town might settle if the town was unable to produce “documentation”. Mayor Henry Hawkins told the council that the documentation had not been found.
The town denied a NorthEscambia.com public records request for the email, citing state statute that allows the exemption since the email discussed by the council dealt with the pending litigation. The town did not respond whatsoever to a November 27 public records request for a copy of the “most recent statement and/or past due notice showing amount owed to City Services”, but NorthEscambia.com otherwise obtained a copy of that bill.
Cantonment Man Charged For Fleeing Traffic Stop Before Causing Wreck
January 30, 2020
A Cantonment man is facing several charges after allegedly refusing to stop his vehicle for deputies before causing a wreck Tuesday evening.
Kendrick Lamar Gross, 20, was charged with fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance (Oxycontin) without a prescription, destroying evidence and operating a motor vehicle without a license. According to the ECSO, Gross attempted to hide narcotics in the woodline next to his wrecked car (pictured below).
Gross was released from the Escambia County Jail Wednesday night on a $17,000 bond.
A deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a sedan driven by Gross, but he fled, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy did not directly pursue the vehicle but did locate the crash a short time later.
Four people including two minors in the SUV were injured, along with a passenger in the car. All five were transported by Escambia County EMS to the hospital with injuries that were not considered to be life threatening.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not released further details on the traffic crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Escambia County 2% Real Estate, Tangible Tax Discount Ends Friday
January 30, 2020
A 2% discount on payment of real estate and tangible personal property taxes ends Friday, January 31, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
To receive the two percent discount, payments must be:
- made online by midnight, CST, Friday, January 31, at EscambiaTaxCollector.com;
- mailed with a January postmark; or
- left by midnight, CST, Friday, January 31, in a 24-hour drop box available at all locations.
Taxpayers are encouraged to visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com to pay online 24 hours a day. The website allow customers to pay their taxes, search records, print receipts, renew vehicle and vessel registrations and many other services. Customers who decide to visit one of four offices can join the line online at EscambiaTaxCollector.com.
Readers Submitted Beautiful Rainbow Photos. Here Are A Few Of Our Favorites.
January 30, 2020
People across the North Escambia area were treated to a beautiful rainbow as skies begin to clear Wednesday afternoon. Dozens of readers submitted photos or posted them on our social media sites. Here are a few of our favorites.
Pictured top: Rainbow photographed Wednesday afternoon in Flomaton by Katie Fowler.
Above by Katy Jones
Above by Angie Lynn
Above: Flomaton by Dietrich Bondurant
Above: Century by Mae Hildreth
Above: McDavid by April White
Above by Shawn Moye
Above Highway 29 Cantonment by Mikie Johnson
Above by Tiffany White
Above by Dixie Hadley
Above McDavid by Matthew Kennell
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fifth Grade Sign-ups Next Week For The Ransom Middle School Band
January 30, 2020
Ransom Middle School’s band performed at Jim Allen and Kingsfield elementary schools this week in advance of fifth grade sign-ups next week.
Fifth graders can register anytime between 5-7 p.m. on February 4-5 in the Ransom band room. This is open to any current fifth graders planning to attend Ransom Middle School in the fall of 2020.
Students will have a chance to try different instruments with local professionals to see which one is the best fit, including flute, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, French horn, tuba, trombone, baritone and percussion instruments.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Hartung Convicted Of Murdering Three Family Members For Money
January 29, 2020
An Escambia County man has been found guilty of murdering three family members in 2015.
A jury returned the verdict late Wednesday afternoon against 63-year old Donald Hartung on Wednesday on three counts of first degree premeditated murder of his mother, 77-year old V Voncile Smith and two half-brothers, 47-year old John Smith,and 49-year old Richard Smith.
Hartung showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts were read aloud. Sentencing hearings are expected to begin Monday and are expected to take about four days. The state is seeking the death penalty.
All three bodies were found on July 31, 2015, in their home on Deerfield Drive. All three were beaten with a claw hammer and their throats slit, and Richard Smith was also shot in the head.
Prosecutors say Hartung was intentionally left out of his mother’s will with everything set to go to John and Richard Smith. The state says the interhertience was Hartung’s was motivation, and the only way he would collect any cash would be to kill all three.
Hartung allegedly hit John Smith with a hammer and slit his throat, just before his mother met the same fate. He took steps to hide the bodies, according to prosecutors, before brother Richard — a Department of Homeland Security IT professional — came home. Hartung, the state said, shot him in the head and also slit his throat.
The defense disputed the motive and the time of death. The defense also claimed crime scene technicians did not properly change gloves during their investigation, and that could have transferred Hartung’s DNA to the hammer used in the killing.
Alabama Closing Most Of Holman Prison In Atmore
January 29, 2020
Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Commissioner Jeff Dunn announced Wednesday morning accelerated plans to close and decommission the main facility at William C. Holman Correctional Facility – one of the Department’s oldest structural facilities.
The decision to accelerate the existing plan was made swiftly and strategically by ADOC’s executive leadership upon learning of the daily interventions required to maintain deteriorating underground utility systems, which provide essential power, water, and sewer services, in order to keep the main facility operational.
“Since my arrival at the ADOC almost five years ago, this department has been vocal about the pervasive and extreme dilapidation crippling facilities throughout the correctional system – and Holman Correctional Facility is no exception,” said Jeff Dunn. “This is a real and serious issue that cannot be understated and, after learning the extent of the risks associated with continued maintenance attempts at Holman Correctional Facility, moving quickly on our plans to decommission was the right and only decision.”
The ADOC continuously monitors and performs risk analyses of its aging facilities in an effort to maintain critical systems across the correctional system. The current conditions within the Holman Correctional Facility tunnel, in which the main facility’s electrical, water, and sewer control systems are housed, now present increased safety concerns and a degree of risk to anyone who enters the tunnel, ultimately rendering ongoing maintenance or repair of these systems unsustainable.
“Protecting inmates, staff, and the general public is of paramount importance to the ADOC, and the 51-year-old Holman facility simply is no longer viable to house a large population of inmates,” added Dunn. “Band-aid solutions to any problem of this magnitude are temporary at best and cannot fix the root cause of our collective problem – Alabama’s prison infrastructure is failing. We are now projecting upwards of $800 million in deferred maintenance costs alone. This unavoidable issue reinforces the critical importance of Governor Ivey’s transformative and necessary plan to build three new correctional facilities.”
The main facility at Holman Correctional Facility houses general population and death row inmates, the cafeteria, the medical unit, the administrative suite, and the execution chamber, which is the only component of the main facility that will remain in use. Executions will not be affected, and the ADOC will take all necessary measures and precautions to maintain the integrity and safety of the chamber and its access points. The department currently is working with third-party experts to accomplish this important endeavor.
Upon completion of the decommissioning process, approximately 422 general population inmates and 195 restrictive housing inmates will be relocated to other ADOC facilities. Approximately 150 of Holman Correctional Facility’s low-risk inmates serving life without parole sentences will be moved to the facility’s standalone E-dorm (formerly the faith-based dormitory) and continue to work at the prison’s tag and clothing plants.
Holman’s restrictive housing unit will be modified appropriately to house and serve the facility’s current 145 death row inmates, as well as 21 additional death row inmates who already have been transferred safely from Donaldson Correctional Facility as part of Phase 1 of this process. The restrictive housing unit, E-dorm, and the tag and clothing plants all have independent power, water, and sewage systems.
The exact details and timing of Phase 2, which encompasses the transfer of Holman Correctional Facility’s general and restrictive housing populations, will not be made public in advance for security purposes. The process by which inmates are transferred is routine, and the department will work diligently to minimize disruption.
“We currently are working hard to identify and implement measures to account for the impact of increased populations across the correctional system, and to ensure continued access to health, educational, and rehabilitative services and programs for our inmate population,” continued Dunn. “We will be making appropriate modifications to existing facilities to address concerns associated with relocation including safety, security, staffing, crowding and programming. This is a complex process, and my department is committed to maintaining transparency without compromising inmate, staff, or public safety.”
The ADOC anticipates retaining enough security and support personnel to staff the active areas at or near 100 percent, establishing a replicable management and rehabilitative model for other facilities as new security staff continues to be added across the correctional system. Staff currently working at Holman Correctional Facility not assigned to active areas within the facility will be reassigned to nearby correctional facilities based on the needs of the department.
Health, rehabilitative, and food services will be provided to Holman Correctional Facility from Fountain Correctional Facility, which is located approximately one mile from Holman.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Freedom Road Bridge In Century Closed
January 29, 2020
The Town of Century closed a portion of Freedom Road Wednesday morning for bridge repairs.
Freedom Road is closed from Jefferson Avenue to just east of the bridge, which is located about 250 feet from the Jefferson Avenue and Freedom Road intersection. The closure eliminates all through traffic on Freedom Road; drivers must use the Highway 4 entrance to Freedom Road. This includes all residents of the Camellia Gardens Apartments.
The town said the bridge will remain closed until repairs of replacement can be made.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Walnut Hill Man Charged With Felony Sexual Battery Of Teen Girl
January 29, 2020
A Walnut Hill man has been charged with the sexual battery of a teenage girl over a four year period of time.
William Isaiah Dunsford, 40, was charged with first degree felony sexual battery on a victim over 12 but under 18 by a custodial person.
The investigation started in June 2019 after the victim went to her work supervisor and asked for more hours and a later shift. When the supervisor asked why, she admitted Dunsford had been sexually assaulting her since she was 13, according to an arrest report. The employer contacted law enforcement.
The victim told investigators that Dunsford had sex with her one to two times a week. She said Dunsford tells her that he will take care of her, and when she turns 18 they will be together, according to an arrest report. The victim said multiple times that she does not want anything bad to happen to Dunsford “because she feels as though they are in a loving relationship” and she allows him to have sex with her, the report states.
“He says that he loves me and I tell it to him back,” the victim stated, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
The victim was confirmed to be pregnant at the time of the report last June by the Department of Children and Families, but the report does state who is the biological father of the child.
Dunsford also allegedly took multiple nude photos of the underage victim and instructed her to take photographs of herself and send them to him.
A deputy contacted Dunsford who stated he had retained an attorney and would not be making any further statements to law enforcement.
Dunsford was booked into the Escambia County Jail this week and released Wednesday morning on a $100,000 bond.