Woman Sentenced For Elaborate Plan To Torture, Kill Ex, Burn House Down
January 14, 2016
An Escambia County woman has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison, of which a 20 year minimum mandatory sentence which must be served day for day or parole, for an elaborate plan to kill her ex-husband.
Nadine Sapp Harris, age 60, was convicted by an Escambia County jury for charges of attempted first degree murder, attempted false imprisonment, attempted arson, aggravated assault with a firearm, and battery. The charges stem from an elaborate plan to ambush, capture, torture and kill her ex-husband and to burn down the marital home.
Over a course of weeks Harris distributed hundreds of pounds of shredded or crumpled paper bundled into plastic grocery bags throughout the entirety of the three-story Escambia County home she had shared with her ex-husband. She placed paper in every dresser and cabinet drawer in the house, in cardboard boxes in every room, and inside the heating and cooling closets, return air vents and attic of the home. Some of the grocery bags were stacked in pyramid configurations placed into corners to maximize the intended fire’s intensity.
Harris planted over 115 drinking bottles that had been filled approximately one-third full with gasoline with the cap on. She also purchased thirteen bottles of charcoal lighter fluid from nearby Home Depot and Walmart stores on three separate trips, along with wooden dowels. She cut the wooden dowels down to 6-inch lengths and presoaked them in the lighter fluid to act as kindling for the fire. She also soaked the paper and all the mattresses in the home with lighter
fluid.
Then, on June 27th, 2014, Harris lured her ex-husband to the home. She parked her car three miles away and then sent him a text message that she was vacating the house – a condition of their divorce. Then she laid in wait. When the victim
came inside, she was waiting for him with a gun. She confronted him in the living room near the front door, and told him that she “was going to end it right here.” The evidence suggests she intended suicide as well as murder.
One fact saved the victim’s life. He had brought witnesses. The witnesses were outside at the time of the confrontation, but were within earshot. When Nadine Harris moved to close the open door, the victim desperately lunged for the gun. As they fought for control of the gun, Nadine Harris discharged one shot. The bullet missed the victim and buried itself in a wall.
After the discharge, the victim successfully disarmed the defendant and tossed the gun outside. He broke his hand in the process. After being disarmed of the handgun, Nadine Harris then produced a stun gun and attempted to shock the victim with it. He knocked the stun gun out of her hand. Then she pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed the victim. Nevertheless, after being sprayed with pepper spray, he wrestled the defendant to the ground and held her down until law enforcement arrived. While being held down, she also bit his forearm causing a significant wound.
The subsequent investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office revealed the extent of the defendant, Nadine Harris’s plan. They discovered the arson preparations. They discovered that within arm’s reach of where Nadine Harris had confronted her ex-husband, she had planted zip ties fashioned to serve as handcuffs, a strip of duct tape precut and ready to grab, a rope tied with a noose, and a small black duffel bag. Inside the duffel bag, Nadine Harris had placed the accelerant-soaked dowel rods, a lighter, a box of safety matches, more zip-tie handcuffs, a roll of duct tape, a pair of socks potentially to be used as a gag, a screwdriver, a folding camping saw, a drywall saw, and two clear easy-access containers full of muriatic acid.
Escambia Man Arrested For Soliciting A Minor Online
January 14, 2016
An Escambia County man on probation for child neglect has been arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for soliciting a minor online.
Robert Hardee, 24, was charged with online solicitation of a child, transmitting harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. Hardee was already serving probation on a 2015 child neglect conviction from Escambia County.
Hardee began communicating with an undercover FDLE agent online last June. During the communication, Hardee solicited who he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. During the investigation, Hardee sent nude photos and attempted to seduce the undercover agent to engage in sexual activity.
Hardee was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond. When arrested, he provided an address in the 700 block of Benjulyn Road in Cantonment.
He was previously sentenced on charges of DUI and child neglect to 90 days in jail followed by 48 months probation for driving drunk on the wrong side of Nine Mile Road with two children in his vehicle.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy was traveling westbound on Nine Mile Road on August 9, 2014, when he observed traffic swerving left and right to avoid a Nissan SUV traveling on the wrong side of the road. Hardee turned on Chemstrand Road where he came to a stop. Two children were in the vehicle.
Hardee failed a field sobriety test, and later failed a breathalyzer test with an alcohol level of .242 — just over three times the legal limit of .08 — according deputies. Deputies reported finding a small bottle of vodka in the vehicle, with one of the children telling a deputy that Hardee has just consumed the alcohol.
Hardee also received traffic citations for driving on the wrong side of the road and possession of an open container in a motor vehicle following the 2014 incident.
Can You Hear Me Now? Donald Trump Brings Campaign To Pensacola
January 14, 2016
Thousands of people packed the Pensacola Bay Center Wednesday night to hear Donald Trump, Republican candidate for president.
Trump took at two Florida residents during the event — “So you have the Governor who’s got very low energy, named Bush. You have Rubio who is a sitting senator and you have Trump. Now I have a lot of property…lot of stuff, all over Florida,” the billionaire said.
His lengthy 70 minute speech –without teleprompters — kept the crowd on their feet as he moved, sometimes suddenly, from one topic to another.
“And by the way I don’t like this mic, whoever the hell brought this mic system don’t pay the son of a b****,” Trump informed his staff as he was discussing trade policy with China. “This mic is terrible, stupid mic keeps popping…Don’t pay him. You know I believe in paying but when somebody does a bad job like this you shouldn’t pay the b******,” Trump said.
Trump received the endorsement of several prominent community leaders in Florida prior to his rally in Pensacola.
Businessman George Scarborough, Pastor Carl Gallups, 2nd Amendment activist Clover Lawson, and Veterans Terry Busbee Sr., Gary O’Neal and Capt. Allen Brady each spoke prior to Trump’s speech, in addition to Kathryn ‘Kat’ Gates-Skipper the first female Marine in Combat Operations, who endorsed Trump’s candidacy in November at his Sarasota rally.
“It is my great honor to receive endorsements from each of these incredible people. Their support for my message and endorsement of my candidacy for President of the United States means so much to me, and with their help, and the help of so many great people in Florida and all over the country, we will make America great again,” Trump said.
Pictured: Republican candidate Donald Trump packed the Pensacola Bay Center Wednesday night. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
BBB Warns Of Powerball Scams
January 14, 2016
With the largest ever Powerball prize now in the history books, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that scammers will be taking advantage of the situation to trick people into thinking they are winners.
The BBB expects to see scammers reaching out via email, telephone and snail mail to “inform” secondary winners of smaller prizes. Lottery scams were among the top scams last year.
Typically, targets of a lottery scam are asked to pay “taxes” or other fees upfront before they can claim their “winnings.” Of course, once they make the payment (or several payments), the big prize never materializes and the scammers are nowhere to be found. In another variation, the target receives a congratulatory letter in the mail informing them of the big win. Included is a check to cover the taxes on the winnings. Victims are instructed to deposit it into their bank account and then send the money to a third party, usually by wire transfer or prepaid debit card, which are largely untraceable. The lottery check is a fake that bounces and the victim is out the money.
Here are BBB’s tips to avoid lottery scams:
- Don’t pay up to claim a prize. You should never have to pay money or buy products in order to receive a prize. Be especially wary of requests to send money via wire, prepaid debit card, gift card or other unusual forms of payment.
- Be wary of email announcements. Major sweepstakes organizations sometimes email about smaller prizes, but for big winners they usually show up at your house with a big check (and a camera crew).
- You can’t win a contest you didn’t enter. You need to buy a ticket or complete an application to participate in a contest or lottery. Be very careful if you’ve been selected as a winner for a contest you never entered.
- Verify — but not by using a source the scammers give you. Check if an offer is real, but don’t call the phone number in the email or website you suspect may be a scam. If it is a con, chances are the person on the other line will be involved, too.
- Check with BBB: Learn more about lottery scams and other cons at bbb.org/scam.
Broxson Files Pledge Of Allegiance In Schools Bill
January 14, 2016
Florida State Representative Doug Broxson has filed a bill relating to the Pledge of Allegiance. This new legislation would require the notice of students’ right not to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance to be included in the student handbook or similar publication, rather than posted “in a conspicuous place” such as in a classroom
Recently, the Santa Rosa County Legislative Delegation was approached by area school board superintendents to craft legislation that would simplify the school requirement to comply with a Florida law that states, “Each student shall be informed by posting a notice in a conspicuous place that the student has the right not to participate in reciting the pledge.” Additionally, upon researching the matter, it became clear that the statutes needed to be amended to comply with the 2006 Frazier v. Alexandre ruling from the U.S. District Court. the bill will also require unexcused students to show full respect to the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.
“This is an issue that will affect every classroom across the state of Florida. I believe this statute needs clarification before more school districts begin to succumb to pressure from outside groups that do not want students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. We have received input from superintendents, teachers, parents, and students; and all of them have implored us to clarify this statute,” Broxson said.
“As a proud veteran of the US Air Force, it is my honor to cosponsor a bill pertaining to the American Flag and Pledge of Allegiance. I believe this bill will create better clarity for school board administrators to implement an existing policy in a more unified manner,” said Rep. Mike Hill.
“The Pledge of Allegiance is something every American should recite with pride. This good bill will resolve the current controversy in Santa Rosa County and remove the signs currently in classrooms that state students do not have to say the Pledge of Allegiance,” added Sen. Greg Evers.
Appeals Court Overturns Arson Conviction Of Century Man For Stolen Car Fire
January 13, 2016
The First District Court of Appeal has overturned the arson conviction of a Century man that stole a a car that was accidentally burned after a a cigarette lighter was used to illuminate the passenger compartment, which contained a stolen gas can.
Joshua Jackson Grimes, 31, was convicted by an Escambia County jury of grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary of an unoccupied structure, second degree arson and second degree petit theft. He was sentenced by Judge Jan Shackelford to four years in state prison, plus ordered to $1,434 in court costs, fees and the investigative cost of the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
In reverse the arson conviction Tuesday, the appeals court remanded the case back to Escambia County for re-sentencing. The court said for the conviction to stand, Grimes would have to be responsible to starting the fire. But prosecutors agreed that the fire was started by a juvenile.
“It cannot be said that appellant caused the fire, nor that the fire occurred during the theft of the motor vehicle,” according to the appeals court ruling. “The state concedes Mr. Grimes did not start the fire. H.L., a juvenile who was not present when the car was taken from where its owner left it, accidentally set the interior of the car on fire well after the appellant had taken the car and reached “a place of temporary safety.”
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Grimes took a 2003 Hyundai Sonata without permission from a female on Tedder Road. Grimes allegedly drove to Wallace, AL, where he pickup up a teen male, the two of them riding around until the vehicle ran out of gas after dark back in Florida. Grimes then reportedly stole a gas can containing about four gallons of gas from the carport of a residence on Highway 168.
The teen said Grimes poured a “little bit” of gas into the vehicle to get the pair out of the area and then placed the gas can in the backseat of the vehicle.
A short time later, the teen used a cigarette lighter to illuminate the inside of the vehicle, accidently igniting the gas can and inside of the vehicle. The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue was dispatched to a vehicle fire with a possible burn victim on Highway 168, but the vehicle was gone by the time firefighters arrived.
Grimes allegedly drove the vehicle to his home on nearby Wawbeek Road until morning and then returned the burned vehicle back to the owner’s home after daylight. According to deputies, the vehicle was charred on the inside, with a melted five-gallon gas can and a melted ice chest in the backseat.
The teen male was found to have suffered burns during the incident, and the case was referred to the Department of Children and Families for further investigation.
Florida Lottery Warns Of Online Powerball Ticket Scam
January 13, 2016
The Florida Lottery is warning players of a lottery scam in which scammers are selling shares of Powerball tickets online.
The website includes the official Florida Lottery logo as well as information about all Florida Lottery games. They promote that they are a “USA POWERBALL Syndicate”, in which players purchase shares and all winnings are divided equally between each share.
Under Florida law, players cannot purchase any lottery ticket, including Powerball, over the internet, phone, or by mail. All lottery tickets must be purchased from an authorized Florida Lottery retailer in the state of Florida.
Florida Prison Boss Calls For More Staff, Shorter Shifts
January 13, 2016
Gov. Rick Scott is backing a request by Department of Corrections Secretary Julie Jones for 734 more prison workers and a reduction in staff shifts from 12 to eight hours.
The recommendations come after three separate audits blamed prison problems, including contraband like cell phones, on inadequate and overworked staff. Scott’s budget request, which came on the opening day of the 2016 legislative session, asks lawmakers for an $82 million increase in prison spending this year, which would bring the agency’s total budget to nearly $2.6 billion.
The additional workers will “make our institutions safer for inmates, agency staff and communities,” Scott said in a press releas
e. In the release, Jones blamed other prison woes on the current 12-hour shift model.
“Poor staff retention, increasing overtime expenditures, introduction of contraband, and staffing shortages are all due in some part to the officer fatigue and burnout associated with 12-hour shifts,” Jones said.
Jones’ budget request is part of an ongoing effort to clean up the state’s corrections system, which has been in the spotlight for allegations of cover-ups regarding prisoner deaths, brutality by prison guards and reports of widespread smuggling of contraband — including cell phones, cigarettes and drugs — into the facilities.
by The News Service of Florida
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Celebrate Senior Night
January 13, 2016
The Baker Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs 63-40 Tuesday night in Bratt.
It was Senior Night for the Chiefs as they honored Bradley Van Pelt, the only senior on the varsity Northview team. It was also the last home game of the regular season for the Chiefs. They are on the road January 14 at Freeport, January 15 at Jay and January 21 at W.S. Neal. The district tournament begins February 1 in Freeport.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power Warns Of Continuing Scam
January 13, 2016
Gulf Power is continuing to warn customers of a scam in which area businesses received calls from a person claiming to represent Gulf Power and demanding payment — or their electric service would be cut off.
Gulf Power continues to work with law enforcement in reporting these incidents, but the company has received an escalated amount of calls from customers reporting fraudulent calls in recent days.
Customers are being told their electric bill is past due and that their electricity will be cut off if the customer does not provide a credit card payment or other forms of immediate payment.
Gulf Power advises customers that:
- Gulf Power employees will never call a customer at home seeking any personal information, including credit card numbers.
- Gulf Power representatives will never ask a customer for money when they visit a residence or business.
- All Gulf Power representatives carry badges with picture identification that includes the employee’s name and the company’s name and logo.
Customers should call Gulf Power at 1-800-225-5797 if they have any questions about the identity of anyone representing Gulf Power.
Gulf Power is working with local law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrators. If anyone has been victimized by one of these schemes, or has any information about suspects, call local law enforcement and to contact Gulf Power at 1-800-225-5797.