Appeals Court Upholds Conviction Of Cantonment Man For Store Robbery
May 22, 2019
An appeals court has upheld a 15-year sentence for a Cantonment man for the 2016 robbery of a Cantonment convenience store.
On September 10, 2016, Jonathan Mark Vito entered the Tom Thumb on Highway 29 and Woodbury Court and displayed to the clerk what appeared to be a firearm and demanded money. He then fled the scene with the money, beer and cigarettes. He was later identified in the surveillance video by a previous co-worker and a relative.
Vito was charged with robbery with a firearm, but pleaded guilty to robbery without a weapon, which carries a maximum 20-year sentence. His lawyers requested 18-months, but Circuit Judge John Miller imposed a 15-year sentence in July 2017.
Vito attempted to withdraw his guilty plea after sentencing, saying he did not read well and really did not understand he could face such a lengthy sentence.
At a hearing, Vito swore that he read and signed the written plea agreement, understood all the rights he was giving up by entering the plea, was entering the plea freely and voluntarily, was not coerced, and was satisfied with his lawyer’s performance.
Post conviction, Vito contended that he entered the plea involuntarily and had understood that he would receive drug treatment, not prison time. His motion to withdraw his plea was denied.
On appeal, he asserted for the first time that the trial court failed to follow proper procedure regarding his plea. The Florida First District Court of Appeal found otherwise and upheld the original 15-year sentence.
Vito has prior convictions for trafficking in stolen property, pawnbroker transaction fraud, theft, fleeing and eluding, and several other misdemeanor charges.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
On The Radio: Jim Allen Fourth Graders Present Play
May 22, 2019
Fourth grade students at Jim Allen Elementary School presented the play “On The Radio” Tuesday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Kingsfield Road Man Caught In Alabama With 48 Pounds Of Marijuana Worth $170K
May 22, 2019
An Escambia County man was caught in Alabama with 48 pounds of high grade marijuana worth $170,000, according to authorities.
Tony Phan, 47, is charged with marijuana trafficking and remained in the Baldwin County Jail without bond.
Phan was pulled over on I-10 due to a traffic violation. A K-9 alerted on the vehicle for the presence of illegal narcotics, and deputies found the 48 pounds of marijuana in the back seat of the vehicle.
The Baldwin Sheriff’s Office said the marijuana originated in the state of Washington and was being transported to the Pensacola area.
Phan is a resident of the 3000 block of Kingsfield Road, according to jail records.
Northview’s Aubree Love Inks To Play Softball With Coastal Alabama
May 22, 2019
Northview High School’s Aubree Love committed Tuesday to play softball at Coastal Alabama Community College. Love, who graduated on Saturday, will be attending Coastal on an academic scholarship. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Boat Ramp Road In Century Closed Thursday
May 22, 2019
Boat Ramp Road in Century will be closed on Thursday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., according to a notice from the town. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Nine Mile Road To Be Closed At Highway 29 Wednesday Night
May 22, 2019
Nine Mile Road will be closed at the Highway 29 overpass in Escambia County from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 23, as crews continue removal of the old southbound bridge deck. Nine Mile Road will also be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, and Thursday, May 30, as crews complete the bridge deck removal. Traffic control officers will be on-site to help direct motorists. The following detour will be in place:
Eastbound Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one lane, directed to Highway southbound, U-turn at West Hood Drive, and return to Nine Mile Road. Westbound traffic will perform the same operation at West 9 1/2 Mile Road.
Additionally, Highway 29 traffic between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road may experience alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations.
Construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Cantonment Woman Pronounced Deceased After Colliding With Utility Pole
May 21, 2019
A Cantonment woman was pronounced deceased after hitting a pole on West Nine Mile Road Tuesday afternoon.
Barbara Brown, 69, was traveling west on Nine Mile near Eight Mile Creek Road about 12:50 p.m. when her Dodge pickup traveled off the roadway and collided with a utility pole, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Brown was transported to West Florida Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
Police ID Atmore Graduation Party Murder Victim
May 21, 2019
Police have released the name of the young man shot and killed at a graduation party early Saturday morning in Atmore.
Chirshawn Jermaine Westry, 19, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the shooting, according to Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks. Eight other people were injured.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Atmore Police have not made any arrests and are continuing to investigate.
Brooks said Atmore Police officers could hear gunfire around the property when they arrived at a party attended by hundreds of people at a community center in the former Escambia County Middle School on Martin Luther King Drive about 2 a.m. Saturday. Westry was found deceased in the cafeteria of the building, where the party was being held.
Witnesses told police that a fight broke out between two females. As partygoers attempted to separate the females, numerous gunshots were fired, hitting several individuals, the police chief stated. Additional gunshots were fired, striking more victims, in the parking lot.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Century Rejects $240K Offer For Vacant Industrial Property
May 21, 2019
A $240,100 deal is dead that would have seen the first tenant in over a decade in the former Helicopter Technology building in Century.
West Florida Gin Manager Robert Earl Godwin and businessman Larry Baxley, who are in the process of setting up North Escambia Warehouse and Storage, LLC, made a preliminary lease-to-own offer on the town-owned building at $4,000 per month for five years, for a total of $240,000. The company would make an $8,000 deposit, pay the first month’s rent in advance, and pay for any upgrades to the building.
At the end of the lease term, they would be able to buy the building for $100, a proposed lease agreement prepared by the town’s attorney stated.
A motion by council member Boutwell Monday night to proceed with negotiations and work on an agreement failed on a 3-2 vote with council members James Smith, Sandra McMurray-Jackson and Luis Gomez voting against.
“It doesn’t look like there is a next step,” Council President Ann Brooks said.
The West Florida Gin planned to use about half of the warehouse space for cotton storage because the longtime Walnut Hill business has outgrown its storage space. Baxley said there is a “tenant we have in mind at the moment” for the remainder of the space, a move that would have required additional council approval for a sub-lease.
The cotton storage would likely not create any jobs, which was one major concern for some council members.
“I don’t see the benefit for us,” Smith said. “Where’s the employment?”
In 2017, the building was appraised for $550,000 with a fair market rent of $80,000 per year ($6,667 per month).
Smith and Gomez expressed concerns that if the council were to lease the building below market value, the town would not have any available industrial space if another company wanted to located in Century with new jobs.
“Someday it could produce jobs, even it’s 10-15 jobs for Century,” Gomez said.
“Let’s talk about y’all’s track record and my track record,” Baxley said after pointing out that no company had seriously considered the building in the past decade but he had developed several similar properties. “For 46 years now, I’ve been making payroll.”
The former Helicopter Technology building is a 40,000 square foot office/warehouse building with full climate control, sprinkler system, new HVAC and energy efficient lighting. The town re-acquired the industrial building at public auction for less than $1 out of pocket back in August 2009, following the town’s foreclosure judgment against the now defunct Helicopter Technology.
Businessman Larry Baxley (pictured top photo on left) listens to the Century Town Council shoot down his lease-to-own offer for the former Helicopter Technology industrial building (pictured below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Fire Rescue Presents Annual Awards
May 21, 2019
The night of November 2, 2018, Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a house fire in the 2500 block Portobella Place, just south of East Kingsfield Road. The crew from the Cantonment Station of Escambia Rescue was first on scene, and other responding fire engines were significantly delayed due to an extended medical call.
Lt. Bryan Caro instructed firefighter Matthew Callahan to pull a hose to the back of the home, where most of the fire was located. Caro and firefighter Eric Irigoyen entered the home for an aggressive search. A female resident was located by Caro and carried out the front door where he was met and assisted by Battalion Chief Dan Brask. CPR was started, and woman was transported to an area hospital.
During Escambia Fire Rescue’s annual Medal Day, Caro was awarded the Medal of Gallantry, while Brash received the Distinguished Service Medal. A Company Citation and ribbon were presented to firefighters Callahan, Eric Irigoyen, Will Smith, Justin Amberg and Justin Bratt; and Lt. Scott Averill.
Company Citations were presented to members of the Century Station of Cantonment Fire Rescue for a November 23, 2018, medical call for a 45-year old man in cardiac arrest. The man, who is a welder and had been working on a project, was on the ground when first responders arrived. A bystander had started CPR. Firefighters, Escambia EMS and an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived on scene within minutes to being advanced life support. Before LifeFlight arrived for transport, the man had signs of a pulse and was trying to breathe on his own. He made a full recovery.
Acting Lt. Dale Dirks, firefighter Gavin Nigh, Lt. Keith Chapman, District Chief David Adams and Assistant District Chief Chris Barrow received the company citation.
Numerous Escambia Fire Rescue firefighters received awards during the program for other lifesaving and property-saving events over the past year. In addition to those named above, the follow awards were also presented:
Medal of Gallantry: FF Steve Clark, FF Dale Coulter, FF Kenny Fehl
Distinguished Service Medal: Lt. Greg Campanella, FF Philip Hoffman, FF Jonathan Page, Lt. Jim Beagle, Lt. Andrew Rasnick, FF Bruce Durden. FF Michael Hernandez, Lt. Daniel Mills, FF Kenny Fehl, FF Cody Brown
Medal of Courage: FF Steve Clark
Company Citations: Lt. Lyndon Halteman, FF Justin King, FF Jonathan Page, FF/Paramedic Chase Webb, Lt. Timothy M. Scallan, FF Jeffery Fangman, Lt. Michael Madrey, FF Jason Crabbe, FF Jeff Rohrer, Deputy Chief Paul Williams, Battalion Chief Adam Harrison
Letter of Appreciation: FF Philip Hoffman, Ashley Durden
Annual Awards: Reed Moss was named Volunteer Firefighter of the Year, Capt. Sam Skinner was named Volunteer Fire Office of the Year, Kenney Fehl was named Fire Fighter of the Year, and Lt. Josh Hunter was named Fire Office of the Year.
For photos of many of the award winners, click here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
