Federal Prison For Escambia Man On Child Porn Charges
February 24, 2017
An Escambia County man is headed to federal prison on child porn charges.
Shawn Ryan Goodfleisch, 38, of Pensacola, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in federal prison and will be required to register as a sex offender. A jury convicted Goodfleisch on September 29, 2016, of receipt of child pornography and destruction of evidence to prevent seizure. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
At trial, the government presented evidence that, between January 2014, and October 2014, Goodfleisch received and possessed child pornography, including videos depicting images of minors less than 12 years of age engaged in sex acts. An undercover law enforcement officer discovered and downloaded files containing child pornography from a public sharing network that could be traced to Goodfleisch’s computer. After agents executed a search warrant at Goodfleish’s residence, a forensic analysis of his computer’s hard drive revealed numerous images and videos of child pornography. During the execution of the federal search warrant,
Goodfleisch remotely accessed his computer using a cellular telephone and destroyed, or attempted to destroy, the contents contained on his computer.
United States Attorney Canova stated, “Protecting children from online exploitation is a top priority for this office, the Department of Justice, and our many law enforcement partners. Tragically, it is easy for child predators to access reprehensible content via the Internet.”
“Because of HSI special agent’s investigative authorities, along with our law enforcement partnerships, like with the Pensacola Police Department, this predator will now be behind bars – making our communities safer,” said Susan L. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Tampa.
Changes Weighed For Local Deepwater Horizon Plan Payouts
February 24, 2017
Money from the Deepwater Horizon disaster settlement may be used to market Northwest Florida and for broad economic development projects, under changes to a pair of bills before the House Select Committee on Triumph Gulf Coast.
Also, amendments that the committee rolled out just before a meeting Thursday would eliminate a requirement for projects to get approval from the Joint Legislative Budget Commission. Instead, Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. — a non-profit organization within the Department of Economic Opportunity designed to handle the bulk of the state’s settlement money — will be required to post online details of any project or program 14 days before cash awards are made.
House committee Chairman Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City, said the changes being considered should create “a very fluid process” for projects to advance.
“The fact of the matter is, this is the Panhandle’s money, it’s not Tallahassee’s money,” Trumbull said after the meeting. “So why subject it with too many strings attached to it … too many opportunities for somebody to grab it and send it to South Florida.”
Florida is in line to eventually receive up to $2 billion from the $4.9 billion that is expected to be paid by BP to resolve Gulf Coast economic claims arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil-spill disaster. The state received $400 million last year and is expected to get $106.7 million a year from 2019 through 2033.
Seventy-five percent of the money is to go to the non-profit representing eight Panhandle counties most impacted by the disaster — Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton. Panhandle officials and some member of the committee — comprised of Republican lawmakers from Northwest Florida — have expressed concerns that the initial House proposal was too restrictive.
Due to the late introduction of the changes, the committee agreed to postpone a vote on the amended bills until its next meeting, tentatively set for March 6, the day before the start of the regular Legislative session.
by The News Service of Florida
Northview Wins Home Opener Over Central (With Gallery)
February 24, 2017
The Northview Chiefs beat Central 5-1 Thursday night in the Chief’s home opener in Bratt.
The Chiefs took an early 1-0 lead in the second, and were up 2-0 in the fourth. Both teams scored on in the fifth, and the Chiefs sealed the win with a two-run sixth inning.
Zach Payne went 1-1 for the Northview Chiefs with three RBI’s. Bailey Wilson 1-2, Jared Alif 1-3, Josh Neese 1-1, RBI.
WP: Josh Smith 4.2 IP, threee hits, one run, one error, two strikeouts, three walks.
The Chiefs will head a few miles north into Alabama Friday to face Escambia Academy. The JV plays at 4:00, followed by the varsity at 6:00.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Softball: Tate Tops Escambia; Chipley Over Northview
February 24, 2017
Chipley 4, Northview 1
The Northview Lady Chiefs fell 4-1 on the road to the Chipley Tigers.
Tori Herrington took the loss against the Tigers allowing four runs on four hits, a walk and a hit by pitch while recording eight strikeouts.
Chipley scored first in the bottom of the second on a fielders choice bunt, in the third on a two out single and two more in the fifth on a passed ball and a single. Jamia Newton scored the lone run for Northview in the top of the fourth on a fielders choice hit by Herrington followed by an errant throw.
Batting for the Lady Chiefs:
Jamia Newton: 1-3, single, run
Kendall Enfinger: 1-3, double
Valen Shelly: 1-3, single
Lydia Smith: 1-3, single
Peighton Dortch, Alana Brown, Payton Jackson and Teriana Redmond: 0-3
Tori Herrington: 0-2, walk
Northview travels to Baker to take on the Lady Gators Tuesday Feb. 28. JV 4:00 and Varsity 6:00.
Tate 7, Escambia 4
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Escambia 7-4 Thursday at Tate.
Hanna Brown pitched a complete game allowing just four hits with eight strikeouts and four walks. At the plate, Brown went 2-3 with a double. Belle Wolfenden was 2-3 with a triple. Hayden Lindsay 1-4; Ashley Lunquist 1-2; Syndni Solliday 1-2, RBI; Deazia Nickerson 2-3.
Tate will be at West Florida at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Early Morning Fire Rips Through Atmore Home
February 24, 2017
Fire ripped through a home in the 100 block of Marshall Avenue in Atmore early Friday morning.
The fire was reported just before 1 a.m. The roof of the home had partially collapsed before first responders arrived minutes later, reporting flames some 30 feet into the air.
The home was a total loss. There were no injuries reported.
The home was reportedly unoccupied at the time of the blaze. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Pictured top: Fire burns a home on Marshall Avenue in Atmore early Friday morning. Pictured below. The roof of the home collapsed. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Critical After Highway 29 Molino Wreck
February 23, 2017
One person was seriously injured in a two vehicle crash Wednesday night on Highway 29 near Barrineau Park Road near Molino.
One vehicle, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, came to rest off the roadway in a ditch, while a car came to rest deep in a wooded area after the crash. The driver of that vehicle, an 18-year old male, was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital as a “trauma alert”.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details have not been released.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and others, click to enlarge.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
February 23, 2017
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending February 16 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officers Long and Allgood inspected a local seafood dealer in Pensacola. They found several violations including undersized flounder, no paperwork documenting where the fish came from, and two different quality control violations. The owner of the business was given notice to appear citations for the violations.
Escambia County officers concentrated their efforts on fisheries enforcement this week. Most fishermen were found to be in compliance, but officers documented eight state and federal fisheries violations. These violations included possession of red snapper during closed season and several other size-limit violations.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Ramos was on patrol in the Robert’s Pond Unit of Eglin Wildlife Management Area (WMA), when he found a vehicle parked in a suspicious location. He followed fresh foot prints and other sign towards a stalk hunting area and after reaching the legal boundary of the area, followed the tracks more than ½ mile into a permanently closed area of Eglin. Additional signs of hunting activity were present and it was determined the subject was currently hunting well inside the closed area. Officer Jones arrived to assist and the two officers positioned themselves on a trail waiting for the hunter to return from the closed area. Nearly an hour after sunset, Officer Jones intercepted the subject trying to sneak back onto the main trail in an area open for hunting. When Officer Ramos questioned the subject, he said that he was just barely inside the closed area. After presenting additional evidence, he admitted that he had been deep inside the closed area and that he “should have known better.” Eglin Range Patrol arrived and issued the man a notice of violation, suspending his ability to enter Eglin WMA for one year. Officer Ramos charged the man with a criminal citation for hunting in a closed area and warned him for other violations.
Officers Roberson and Mullins were on patrol when they were dispatched to the Escambia River WMA. A complaint had been received about subjects hunting with dogs in the still hunt area and using an ATV. After arriving on scene moments later, two subjects walked out of the woods with two hunting dogs on leashes and carrying fixed-blade knives on their waistband. After interviewing the first two subjects, two more exited the woods with an ATV and more hunting dogs and two more knives. After gathering all information, they were found to be hunting hogs. Officer Roberson issued misdemeanor citations to three of the subjects for dog hunting in a still-hunt area. Officer Mullins issued one of the subjects an infraction for the use of an ATV on the Escambia River WMA.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Byrneville Elementary Board Adds Member, Forms Building Committee
February 23, 2017
The Byrneville Elementary School Board of Directors elected Wednesday to take another huge step toward a building project, and they also named a new board member.
The board decided to name a building committee. The committee will report back to the board of directors and make a general presentation to parents at a PTO meeting or event about construction plans.
A new building, if approved by the board of directors and if financing is approved, would be constructed on the Byrneville Elementary School’s current four acre property at 1600 Byrneville Road. While there is no construction timetable in place at this time, the building could open within about two years of final approval. It will replace wooden portables currently used for about half of the charter school’s classes.
Byrneville has been a “conversion charter” school since 2002 when the Escambia County School District closed the existing Byrneville Elementary School and converted it into charter school operated under its own board of directors.
Funding for the school is still provided by the state and local government, with the local school district providing the campus and major maintenance services.
Byrneville will need to become a full charter school, taking over building ownership, to become eligible to construct a new permanent building to replace the portables.
Also Wednesday, Brewton attorney Jeremy Hawsey was named to the board of directors.
Pictured: Principal Dee Wolfe-Sullivan and board members Michelle Driskell, Melanie Killam and Tammy Jo Smith meet Wednesday afternoon at Byrneville Elementary School. Pictured inset: Byrneville Elementary School’s main building was constructed in 1941. Pictured below: On of the many wooden portable buildings on the campus. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Celebrates FFA Week With Breakfast
February 23, 2017
FFA students at Ernest Ward Middle School did their part to celebrate National FFA Week with a Wednesday morning breakfast for faculty, staff and invited guests.
Students prepared a breakfast of French toast sticks, grits, biscuits, sausage, fresh fruit and more for the EWMS faculty and staff.
Pictured: FFA students at Ernest Ward Middle School provide breakfast for the school’s faculty and staff Wednesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Schools Celebrate $1 Million In Cash Back
February 23, 2017
Think of it as a really, really big cashback bonus on your credit card….the Escambia County School District celebrated $1 million in total rebates in 10 years on their Regions Bank purchasing card.
Each school in the district uses the purchasing card for items such as paper, cafeteria food and custodial supplies.
“It’s moved us more paperless,” Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said. “It expedites a lot of our purchasing. Just think what credit card purchasing has done for families…how quick you can turn around what you need and when you can get it….Most of these banks will give you rebate, much like you might have a credit card that has cashback.
“It’s a similar process for the district. Now we’ve been into this for 10 years. Now obviously 10 years ago it was not as strong as it is today. We’ve really accelerated over the last two or three years,” Thomas said. “We’ve generated $1 million dollars, and those million dollars go back into schools and classrooms to give them more money to buy supplies and equipment, and it enhances education for our students.”"
Thomas says expects to be celebrating the next million dollar rebate in just a few years, not a decade.
“I believe we will make the second million in five years,” Thomas said. “We can push more purchases to the credit card.”
Pictured: A $1 million rebate celebration Wednesday at the J.E. Hall Center in Pensacola. Photos by Savanna Calhoun, ECSD, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
