Walnut Hill Double Shooting Suspect Indicted For First Degree Murder
July 10, 2018
An Escambia County grand jury on Tuesday returned premeditated murder indictments against a Walnut Hill man for a fatal double shooting in Walnut Hill after which the victims were dumped at an Alabama creek.
Christopher Alan Stacey, 37, was indicted for first degree premeditated murder and attempted first degree premeditated murder for the shooting on Highway 164. If convicted, he faces the death penalty or life without parole.
Three others have been charged in the case. Stacey’s ex-wife, 30-year old Jessica Nichole Thomas, was charged with accessory after the fact to homicide and accessory after the fact to attempted homicide. His son Christopher James Logan Stacey, 18, and Alexis Ileene Shiffner Cain, 21, were each charged with accessory to homicide and accessory to attempted homicide. Both Staceys remain in jail without bond. Shiffner-Cain is being held with bond at $151,000; Thomas is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Their arrests came after two men were found shot in the head near Atmore June 2.
Dalton Davis was found dead in a truck in Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road, and Troy Boutwell was found near the road after crawling from the truck, according to an arrest report. He was transported to Atmore Community Hospital and then airlifted to the USA Medical Center in Mobile in critical condition.
Alabama detectives learned that Boutwelll had been at his friend’s house in the 5900 block of Highway 164, just east of Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. Deputies responded to find the three suspects and another individual in the home.
An Escambia County, FL, investigator was contacted by Atmore Police to relay information on the shooting location. He instructed deputies to respond to the home where they found a couch burning in the backyard (photo below). Deputies extinguished the fire. Victim Boutwell later said he was shot on the couch in the home’s living room of the home, which is about nine miles from where the men were found with the truck.
According to the report, an AR-15 was found in one of the bedrooms and a 12 gauge shotgun was found in another bedroom. The report does not specify if either was the murder weapon. A bullet hole was found in an interior wall.
Christopher Alan Stacey was seated on a bucket across the road from the residence watching as investigators processed the crime scene, while his son sat a wooden chair in front of a neighboring home (both pictured below). Cain and Jessica Thomas were placed in the back of ECSO patrol vehicles as investigators worked.
Florida investigators also responded to the truck at Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road in Alabama to process that crime scene with Alabama agencies. The straight-line location of the truck was about 1,000 feet north of Alabama-Florida State line.
Christopher Alan Stacey, resides with Thomas her at the home on Highway 164. Boutwell told law enforcement that he was shot because of an argument with her ex-husband. The son, Christopher James Logan Stacey, also resides in the home, the report states.
Christopher Allen Stacey and Christopher James Logan Stacey are being held without bond. Cain remains jailed with bond set at $151,000.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Above: Suspects Christopher James Logan Stacey (left) and Christopher Alan Stacey (right) watch as investigators process a murder scene in Walnut Hill Sunday.
Above: A deputy questions Jessica Thomas as she sits inside a patrol vehicle in Walnut Hill.
Above: Deputies found a burning couch in the backyard of the Walnut Hill home.
Above: Florida investigators arrive at the scene on Deere Creek Road in Alabama.
Former FDLE Agent Sentenced To Life For Abusing Young Boys
July 10, 2018
A former Florida Department of Law Enforcement supervisor is headed to prison for the rest of his life for child sexual abuse.
Tuesday, Charles McMullen was sentenced to eight consecutive life terms and an additional 15 years to run concurrent to the life sentences.
McMullen was charged with one count of sexual battery of a child under 12, seven counts of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child under 12 and one count of promoting the sexual performance of a child.
McMullen was first arrested in November 2016 after an 8-year boy told investigators that McMullen had been touching him inappropriately on a frequent basis, followed by another 8-year old boy that made similar allegations and also claimed he was forced to touch McMullen.
Two additional victims came forward after seeing McMullen in the news.
McMullen investigated similar cases during his five year employment with the FDLE. He previously worked as Chief of the Cybercrimes Unit for then-Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and for the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured top: Charles Calvin McMullen (courtesy WEAR 3). Pictured below: McMullen chats online as a teenage girl during a Florida Attorney General demonstration in 2007. File photos.
Mediacom Reports ‘Massive’ Internet Outage
July 10, 2018
UPDATE: This outage has been resolved.
Previous story:
Mediacom is reporting a “massive” outage across several states, including Alabama and Florida. The outage reportedly includes cable television, phone and internet services.
So far, there is no estimated time for services to be restored.
“There’s currently a massive outage that our techs are working on as we speak. We have no ETA, but they’ll keep working on this until the issue is resolved,” the company said on Twitter.
Fire Reported Early Tuesday Morning At Ascend Performance Materials
July 10, 2018
Units from Escambia Fire Rescue responded to a fire at Ascend Performance Materials in Cantonment early this morning.
The fire was reportedly in a “vapor stack” and was quickly extinguished. Escambia Fire Rescue responded, dispatching two ladder trucks to the scene.
There were no evacuations and no warnings for residents in the area. There were no reported injuries.
File photo.
Running On A Shoestring Budget: Century Council Candidates File Finance Reports
July 10, 2018
In Escambia County, candidates for commission and other county offices often receive donations amounting to many tens of thousands of dollars, with some campaign war chests topping well over $100,000. But in Century, candidates run their grassroots campaigns on just a few donations usually amounting to just a few hundred dollars.
The first round of financial reports filed by candidates for the Century town council generally show small donation totals. The $360 raised so far by incumbent Ben Boutwell is the largest Century council campaign budget since 2011.
The total contributions to date to candidates are listed below. Each candidate has paid the $51.07 qualifying fee out of their campaign funds; otherwise no one had expended any other funds.
Seat 3
- Benjamin Boutwell received $360 in donations – including a personal donation of $40 to his own campaign and $20 from his wife.
- Amanuel Dubose loaned $60 to his campaign.
Incumbent Boutwell will face challenger Dubose on the general election ballot on November 6.
Seat 4
- Mary Bourgeois received $130 in donations including $100 from former mayor Freddie McCall.
- John Johnston donated $85 to his campaign.
- James Smith donated $76.07 to his campaign.
Bourgeois, Johnston and Smith will be on the August 28 primary ballot with a runoff in November if no candidate receives one vote more than 50 percent.
Seat 5
- Sandra Jackson, who is running unopposed, loaned $77 to her campaign.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Escambia County Begins Talks On $479.9 Million Budget
July 10, 2018
The Escambia County Commission will hold budget meetings beginning today to consider a $474.9 million budget, up from about $456 million last fiscal year.
The meetings are scheduled for today and Wednesday beginning at 9 a.m.
Meetings will take place in the board chambers of the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, found on the first floor of 221 Palafox Place.
Reptiles, Making Music And Teen Fun – This Week At The Century And Molino Libraries
July 10, 2018
Here are events this week at the Molino and Century branch libraries:
Reno’s Reptiles – Century, Molino
Wednesday, July 11, 11 a.m. – Century Branch Library
Thursday, July 12, 11 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
Local reptile expert, Tim Reno, shares some of his favorite creepy creatures with summer reading program particpants. Learn about snakes, tortoises and more.
Summer STEAM Making Music With Strings – Molino
Wednesday, July 11, 10:30 a.m. – Molino Branch Library
You can make music with almost anything. This time we will be making string instruments using mostly recyclable materials. Create it here and take it home with you for hours of fun.
Teen Summer Program – Molino
Wednesday, July 11, 2 p.m. – Molino Branch Library
Join us for fun with video games, board games and virtual reality. Bring your friends or come prepared to make new ones.
Pensacola’s White, Opponent Keep Pace In Florida GOP Attorney General Money Chase
July 10, 2018
Republican primary opponents in the race for attorney general — state Rep. Frank White and former Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Ashley Moody — were neck-and-neck in terms of fundraising during the fourth week of June, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
White, who remains the overall fundraising leader in the contest, picked up a combined $40,149 in his campaign account and political committee, United Conservatives, according to reports posted by the state Division of Elections.
Moody added $44,685 to her campaign account and Friends of Ashley Moody political committee during the same time period, the reports show.
White’s totals for the week of June 23 to June 29 were bolstered by a $20,000 contribution from business-backed Associated Industries of Florida. The Tallahassee-based lobbying giant and its affiliated political committees have donated generously to both candidates.
White, who serves as general counsel and chief financial officer for the chain of Sandy Sansing auto dealerships, had nearly $2.4 million on hand as of June 29. He has pumped $2.77 million of his own money into the race.
Moody, whose contributions during the week included $6,000 from a pair of pari-mutuels in Miami and Orange Park, had $2.2 million in her combined accounts.
by The News Service of Florida
Summer Gas Prices At Four-Year High
July 10, 2018
The price at the pump is the most expensive summer gas prices in four years in Florida.
Since June 1, Florida gas prices averaged $2.76 per gallon – an increase of nearly 50 cents compared to the average price last summer. But current pump prices remain 20 cents below this year’s high, set during Memorial Day weekend.
The average price per gallon in the North Escambia area is $2.74, up from $2.19 last year.
“Reduced global oil supplies have caused summer travelers to pay a higher price at the pump this year,” said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman, AAA. “Fortunately, domestic gasoline production remains strong, which should help prevent major swings in summer gas prices. But AAA said pump prices will pop if a major hurricane threatens refineries along the Gulf Coast.
NorthEcambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Ready For Aggie Football? Tate Season Passes On Sale
July 10, 2018
Tate High School football season passes are now on sale.
A limited quantity are available on a first come, first served basis. Passes included admission to all regular season home games for the freshmen, junior varsity and varsity teams, plus VIP parking. (Kickoff classic, spring game and playoff games are not included per FHSAA rules.)
To purchase or for more details, click here.