Convicted Century Sex Offender Back Behind Bars
July 9, 2014
A convicted sex offender from Century has been arrested for failing to register his address after being released from prison.
Michael Alexander Dubose, 20, was released from the Lake City Correctional Facility after serving out a sentence for the lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12. Dubose is now back behind bars in the Escambia County Jail for failing to register his address as required as a convicted sex offender. He is being held with bond set at $10,000.
When arrested July 4, Dubose told officials at the county jail that he is currently homeless.
Dubose was 17-years old when he was arrested in 2012 after a male victim told investigators at the Gulf Coast Kids House that Dubose had sexual relations with him over a one year period at two different units at Century Woods Apartments. He was later transferred from the Department of Juvenile Justice to adult court.
Dubose was sentenced as a youthful offender to two years in state youthful offender/sexual offender facility, with credit for 301 days served, to be followed by four years probation.
He was also ordered to complete sexual offender counseling while in custody and follow up with a sex offender evaluation and recommended treatment upon release.
Northview Quarterback Club To Host Softball Tournament
July 9, 2014
The Northview High School Quarterback Club will host a double elimination coed softball tournament August 2 at Showalter Park in Century from 8 a.m. until. The cost is $150 per team. Proceeds will go to support the Northview Chiefs football program.
Employees Sue Florida Corrections Department Claiming Retaliation
July 9, 2014
Four investigators for the Florida Department of Corrections have filed a lawsuit against the agency, saying they’ve been punished for calling attention to an inaccurate report about an inmate’s death.
The suit, filed this week, also names Gov. Rick Scott’s Office of the Inspector General, Chief Inspector General Melinda Miguel and an assistant, and two high-ranking officials at the Department of Corrections as defendants.
It alleges that the four employees bringing the claim — Aubrey Land, David Clark, Doug Glisson and John Ulm — have faced retaliation for raising questions about the investigation into the death of an inmate. The punishment includes two of the four facing their own internal-affairs investigation.
“The plaintiffs have alleged that as a result of the exercise of their rights under the First Amendment, they have been subject to ongoing retaliation in the form of false and unwarranted internal affairs complaints which, in all likelihood, will continue unless injunctive relief is granted by this court,” the suit says.
The four employees aren’t seeking payment from the state, which enjoys sovereign immunity, but are asking that the Department of Corrections and Miguel’s office be barred from retaliating against them. They’re also asking for the court to rule that the group should get whistleblower protection. But the suit does ask for financial compensation from the individuals who are named as defendants.
According to the lawsuit, Land, Ulm and Glisson started an investigation into “a series of complaints concerning garden variety prison guard misconduct at Franklin Correctional Institute” in 2013. As part of that investigation, they concluded that an earlier, 2010 probe into the death of an inmate “was false and misleading.”
Along with Clark, the three met with Corrections Secretary Mike Crews, who referred them to Miguel’s office. But the inspector general’s office denied them whistleblower status, and not long after, Land and Clark faced allegations that they had violated a health-care privacy law and Department of Corrections policy by sharing records in another investigation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The employees’ lawyer, Steven Andrews, is a frequent foe of Scott. Andrews is engaged in a long-running dispute with Scott and the state Cabinet about the right to buy property next to a historic site in Tallahassee, known as The Grove. He also contributed to Bill McCollum, the governor’s opponent in the 2010 GOP primary, and tried to force Scott’s campaign to release a deposition in a lawsuit involving a health-care chain that Scott helped found.
The case also comes as the Department of Corrections is under fire in media reports over the suspicious deaths of inmates. Crews issued a statement Tuesday promising accountability for anyone guilty of wrongdoing.
“If laws were broken by DOC officers or staff, those persons will be swiftly prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Crews said. “Safe and ethically run prisons are central to keeping our crime rate at a historic low.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Wahoos Fall In Series Finale With BayBears 7-4
July 9, 2014
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (7-13, 38-52) fell in the series finale, 7-4, to the Mobile BayBears (13-7, 55-34) at Hank Aaron Stadium. The BayBears were led by third baseman Jake Lamb, who finished the contest 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and three RBI.
The Wahoos jumped out to an early lead when Kyle Waldrop hit a two-RBI double to the right-centerfield gap to score Brodie Greene and Yorman Rodriguez. Seth Mejias-Brean scored Waldrop from second on an RBI single, but the Wahoos bats would go cold until the top of the seventh.
The BayBears responded in the bottom of the first when Lamb hit a laser two-run home run to right field. The BayBears scored two in the fifth to take the lead over the Wahoos, chasing RHP Ben Lively from the contest after 4.1 innings of work. Lively took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits. The right-hander struck out seven batters to bring his total on the season to 122, which is the most in the entirety of the minor leagues.
After the BayBears tacked on another run in the sixth, Pensacola got a run back in the top of the seventh when Josh Fellhauer hit an RBI pinch-hit single in his first appearance since returning from the disabled list.
Mobile put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, adding two runs on an RBI double from Nate Samson and an RBI single from Ryan Court.
Starter Mike Lee earned the win for BayBears; he went 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on four hits. Kaleb Fleck closed the door on the Wahoos, earning his 10th save of the season.
The Wahoos have an off day on Wednesday before returning to Pensacola Bayfront Stadium for a five-game series with the Montgomery Biscuits. RHP Daniel Corcino (7-7, 4.63) will start game one of the series for the Wahoos. The Biscuits will send RHP Dylan Floro (8-6, 2.81) to the bump.
by Tommy Thrall
Stolen Vehicle Torched: Ballpark Damage To Be Covered By Town’s Insurance Policy
July 9, 2014
The Town of Century’s insurance will cover damage caused at a town ballpark when someone torched a stolen car last week.
The fire was reported about 7:15 a.m. on July 1 behind an concession stand at the Lloyd Barrow Field on Church Street. The 1993 Buick Century was in an area not normally accessible to vehicle traffic. A witness said the vehicle had no tag attached.
A 55-year old Century woman said the car was stolen the previous day, leaving her with no way to work.
The ballpark’s concession stand suffered minor damage, with vinyl siding melted off the back of the building. The vehicle’s owner did not have insurance to cover the town’s losses, but the repairs will be covered by the Town of Century’s insurance policy, Mayor Freddie McCall said.
The fire is being invested as an arson by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office while the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the vehicle theft and fire.
Pictured top and inset: A vehicle burns inside a Century ballpark on Church Street Tuesday morning as seen before the fire department arrived on scene. Pictured below: A concession stand was also damaged by the fire. Reader submitted photos by Chris Bachman for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Berrydale Water System Precautionary Boil Water Notice
July 8, 2014
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for customers of the Berrydale Water System in the following areas: customers north of the Dixonville water towner and customers on and north of Highway 87A (Market Road).
Escambia School District Cafeteria Manager Charged With Falsifying Meal Records, Grand Theft
July 8, 2014
A former elementary school cafeteria manager has been charged in connection with falsifying the number of meals served at her school.
Patricia Coker Green of Cantonment was charged with grand theft and official misconduct. She was released from the Escambia County Jail shortly after her arrest on a $5,000 bond.
Green, 53, was employed by the Escambia County School District from August 1994 to January 2014, resigning her position prior to any disciplinary action. At the time of her resignation, she was a Food Services II manager that had worked at Ferry Pass Elementary School from at least 2008 until her resignation early this year.
An internal school district investigation determined that “a significant number of fictitious free meals were recorded” at Ferry Pass Elementary. The report estimates that during the 2009 through pending 2013-2014 school year, 116,051 breakfast meals and 16,866 lunches were falsely recorded. The fictitious meals were included in claim submissions to the State of Florida and caused the Escambia County School District to be wrongly reimbursed.
On March 4, 2014, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services determined the Escambia County School district was “over-reimbursed for the fiscal years of 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for the National School Lunch Program.” As a result, a check in the amount of $254,415.43 dollars was requested from the school as reimbursement payable to the State of Florida.
Based upon the number of meals prepared and served through the Ferry Pass Elementary kitchen, Green was paid as a Food Service Manager II. But due to the fictitious meals, officials said she should have been paid $10,286.07 less per year as Food Service Manager I.
When interviewed, Green “could not provide any plausible explanation other than claiming students would not eat breakfast if they did not see her in the kitchen,” according to a warrant affidavit provided by the State Attorney’s Office.
Green was notified on August 29, 2013, to reduce her kitchen staff because her current number of meals served did not match her staffing levels. Green took a leave of absence on September 3, 2013 for personal reasons, and did not return to work until her resignation.
Century Plans Series Of Special Budget Workshop Meetings
July 8, 2014
Monday night, the Century Town Council scheduled a series of budget workshops for next month to discuss the town’s 2014-2015 budget.
The budget workshop meetings will be held Thursday, August 7; Thursday, August 14; Thursday August 21, and, if needed, Thursday, August 28. All meetings will be held at 3 p.m. in the council chamber at the Century Town Hall at 7995 North Century Boulevard. The meetings are open to the public.
Hardin Named New Escambia County Forester
July 8, 2014
The Florida Forest Service has a new forester in Escambia County to help private landowners with forest land and urban trees. Cathy Hardin was the Gadsden County forester for the past four years and is returning to her home county of Escambia to be the county forester.
The county forester is available to help landowners apply for cost share programs, answer questions about trees and forests, and recognizes exemplary landowners through certification programs such as the Forest Stewardship Program and the Tree Farm Program. She helps the Florida Forest Service and other agencies with education programs, and also assists the county and municipalities to apply for grant programs and Tree City status, among other duties.
If you have questions or need assistance contact Cathy Hardin, Escambia County forester in Molino at (850) 587-5123 or email cathy.hardin@FreshFromFlorida.com.
Escambia County Releases Flood Damage Numbers
July 8, 2014
Escambia County released data Monday that shows the number of damaged infrastructure items in the county from the late April floods, including roads, bridges, sidewalks and drainage systems.
According to the data:
- Total County infrastructure damage sites – 2,138
- Damage sites completed or repaired – 1,627
- Damage sites assigned for design or repair – 355
- Remaining sites to be assigned – 156
Escambia County still wants to hear from residents that have not reported drainage problems in their neighborhoods. Residents are urged to contact the Escambia County Engineering Department by Friday, July 11 to identify all damages eligible for FEMA reimbursement funds.
For more information, call (850) 595-3440.