Man Convicted Of Burglarizing Closed State Line Lotto Store
April 11, 2014
A Century man has been convicted in connection with the burglary of the closed State Line O’ Yes Lotto on Highway 97 in Davisville last October.
Joseph Steve Davis, 53, was found guilty of trespassing in an occupied structure or coveyance, second degree petit theft and criminal mischief. He was sentenced to 12 months probation and 300 hours of community service.
At about 12:11 p.m. on October 10,2013, the Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary in progress at the lottery store, which has been closed since owner Thomas “Tommy” Kroll was shot and killed during a robbery on November 6, 2012.
As Florida deputies arrived, Davis was attempting to flee the scene in his vehicle. Davis turned north on Highway 97, crossing into Atmore, Ala.
The Atmore Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Davis about six minutes later. He was taken into custody in Atmore on alcohol related charges. Davis reportedly took beer from the closed business.
Supreme Court Upholds Death Row Inmate Appeal In Billings Murders
April 11, 2014
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday turned down an appeal by a death row inmate who was convicted of killing an Escambia County couple during a July 9, 2009, home-invasion robbery.
Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr., and four other men entered the Beulah home of Byrd and Melanie Billings with plans to steal a safe that the men thought contained $13 million.
Byrd and Melanie Billings died after each being shot multiple times.
On February 17, 2011, Judge Nicholas Geeker sentenced Gonzalez to death in both murders. Gonzalez challenged the convictions and sentences in his appeal to the Supreme Court, raising numerous arguments. Those arguments included that there was not enough evidence to support a sentencing factor dealing with whether a murder is “heinous, atrocious or cruel.”
The Supreme Court found that the convictions were supported by competent, substantial evidence. In rejecting that argument, the Supreme Court also described details of the murders:
“In the case of Mr. Billings, Gonzalez shot him in one leg, repeated the request for money, and then shot him in the other leg when Mr. Billings was still not forthcoming about the money,” the ruling said. “Gonzalez then placed Mr. Billings in a headlock and dragged him into the master bedroom where he shot him in the side of the face. Only after Mr. Billings was terrorized and endured repeated non-fatal shootings did Gonzalez finally shoot him in the head. As to Mrs. Billings, although her actual shooting and death occurred fairly quickly, she was aware of her impending death and probably fearful of suffering multiple gunshot wounds, having witnessed her husband being shot and suffer. She was then shot in the face, while looking at her attacker and knowing that her children were probably also in grave danger.”
Tate Freshmen Down Northview
April 11, 2014
The freshmen Tate Aggies defeated Northview 5-0 Thursday in Bratt.
The freshmen Aggies will travel to West Florida at 6 p.m. Friday. The JV Aggies will host West Florida at 4:30. and the varsity Jaguars will play the Aggies at 7:00.
The varsity Northview Chiefs will host Chipley in Bratt Friday at 6 p.m.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Ramona Preston, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Convicted Of 2010 Murder
April 11, 2014
An Escambia County man was found guilty Thursday afternoon in the brutal rape and murder of a woman whose body was found in wooded area off Nine Mile Road.
Joshua Wayne Douglas was convicted of first degree murder in the death of 25-year old Jamie Broxson. Her body was found near a Gulf Power substation not far from Broxson’s home in November 2010.
Douglas was tied to the murder by DNA evidence. He will be sentenced next week and could face the death penalty.
House Advances “Homeowner Claims Bill Of Rights’
April 11, 2014
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater moved a step closer toward two of his session priorities on Thursday after a House committee signed off on a measure that would bar insurers from using credit history to deny claims and would also require insurers to provide a checklist of consumers’ rights regarding insurance claims.
The House Regulatory Affairs Committee backed a bill (HB 743) that would prohibit insurance companies from using credit information to deny claims or cancel policies after a claim has been filed if the policies have been in effect for at least 90 days.
The bill, now on its way to the House floor, would also require insurers to send a checklist — dubbed by Atwater as the “Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights” — to a policyholder within 14 days after a claim is filed. The checklist would include information about how long insurance companies have to respond to and settle claims. The Senate version (SB 708) has been awaiting a floor vote since March 13.
Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, said policyholders should be advised of their rights when they first get their policy, something Atwater said he would support. But Daytona Beach Shores Republican Rep. Dave Hood, the sponsor of the House bill, said that the approach in the proposal would be more “cost effective.”
“This is an attempt to give (policyholders) the information at the time they need it, without them having to hunt through the house or whatever if there has been a flood or something else,” Hood said. Atwater requested the list, which was put together by the state’s consumer advocate Steve Burgess, in response to his office receiving about 350,000 phone calls last year from people trying to navigate their claims.
Wahoos Drop Second Straight To Stars, 6-3
April 11, 2014
The Huntsville Stars jumped out to an early lead Thursday night and never looked back as they topped the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 6-3. It’s the first time the Wahoos have dropped consecutive games during the 2014 campaign.
The Stars owned a 3-0 lead at the end of two innings, but Huntsville’s three-run fourth inning proved to be the difference. All three runs scored with two outs in the inning and after Hainley Statia stole second base on what would’ve been the final out of the inning. The throw to second beat Statia, but he slid around Rey Navarro’s tag for his first stolen base of the year. The next four batters reached, including D’Vontre Richardson with a two-run double to put the Stars in front 6-1.
Pensacola pulled within three on a solo home run from Navarro in the eighth, but that was as close as it got. Daniel Corcino (0-2) suffered his second loss of the season surrendering 6R/5ER on 5 hits with 3 walks over 4.0 innings. Drew Gagnon (1-0) earned the win after tossing 6.0 innings and allowing just 2R/ER on just 3 hits. He walked three and struck out one. Kevin Shackelford (1) shut the Wahoos down in the ninth to earn his first save.
The Blue Wahoos turn to RHP Robert Stephenson (1-0, 0.00) to right the ship against RHP Taylor Jungmann (1-0, 1.50). First pitch is slated for 6:30 from Joe Davis Stadium.
by Tommy Thrall
Escambia Votes To Hire Jack Brown As County Administrator
April 10, 2014
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday to hire Taylor County Administrator Jack Brown as the new Escambia County administrator. The county has been without an administrator for about 18 months.
On a motion by Commissioner Grover Robinson, the commission voted to hire Brown 5-0.
The commission offered Brown the job with a one year contact with three month severance clause. Negotiations with Brown will begin immediately; he still has to formally accept the job.
Commissioner Wilson Robertson made an unsuccessful motion to drop all the candidates for administrator prior to the vote to hire Brown. Robertson had continued to support the hiring of Interim Administrator Larry Newsom as the permanent administrator.
After retirement from the Army in 1996, Brown served Taylor County as the director of human resources, county coordinator and county manager. In January 2001 he was hired as the general manager of RDS Manufacturing Company, a position he held for 18 months prior to being recruited as a faculty member at Florida State University.
While at FSU, he was elected as a Taylor County County commissioner . In the summer of 2006 he announced that he would not seek a second term. In January 2007, he resigned from FSU and returned to serve Taylor County as the county administrator.
Three Charged With Multiple Counts Of Animal Cruelty
April 10, 2014
Three people have been arrested on multiple animal cruelty charges after an investigation in Cantonment.
Casey Tyler Ahl, 19, Frances Rebecca Ahl, 72, and Randolph Hewell Rigby, 43, are facing multiple counts that include causing the cruel death, pain and suffering of animals, and unlawful confinement of animals. The charges against the trio were brought directly by the State Attorney’s Office. Authorities said warrants are outstanding on two additional people in the case.
Multiple horses, donkeys and goats were seized from the 400 block of Crowndale Court, while several other animals were found dead on the property.
Escambia County Animal Control officers began their investigation last December. A 17-page document released Wednesday by the State Attorney’s office details the investigation and provides numerous graphic examples of abuse investigators said they found.
Officers reported finding one horse that was dead and apparently stuck in a fence. Several horses were so malnourished that their bones were protruding, while other had hair loss and marks consistent with a condition called rain rot fungus. Many of the animals had numerous sores and wounds, according to the report. Most were malnourished, and one horse had resorted to eating feces. There was little food available for the animals.
Animal Control also located eight poodles, a doberman and five cats on the property.
One of the malnourished horses, a black Tennessee Walker named Ebony, was taken to Panhandle Equine Rescue for rehabilitation. When officers found Ebony on the property, her bones were showing, her stomach was distended and distended, and she suffered from rain rot.
Over the next several weeks, PER and volunteers worked to save Ebony. She was the subject of several NorthEscambia.com articles as PER and volunteers kept watch over her and raised funds for a sling to help her to her feet. Now, she’s able to walk and run on her own and has gained several pounds.
Thursday morning, Casey Ahl remained in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $16,000. Frances Ahl was released from jail on a $16,000 bond, and Randolph Rigby was free on a $21,000 bond. They are due to make their first court appearance May 1. In the meantime, they have been ordered, if released on bond, to not possess any animals.
Pictured above: Escambia County Animal Control, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Fire Rescue’s Cantonment Station and volunteers use a makeshift sling to lift Ebony, a horse seized from Crowndale Court in Cantonment.. Pictured below: Ebony, was unable to get on her feet in her stall about a week after she was seized. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Century Man Convicted Of Indecent Exposure To Nursing Home Residents
April 10, 2014
A Century man has been convicted of exposing himself in front of nursing home residents in Century.
Daryl Lamar Brown, 46, was found guilty by an Escambia County jury of three felony counts of indecent exposure – lewd and lascivious conduct in the presence of an elderly disabled adult and one felony count indecent exposure in public.
Authorities said Brown would approach the windows at Century Care Center and expose himself to residents inside.
Brown is set for sentencing later this month before Judge Ross Goodman.
Gaetz: No Budget Talks During Holiday Break
April 10, 2014
With lawmakers expected to take next week off for the Passover and Easter holidays, budget talks between the House and Senate will begin after lawmakers come back to Tallahassee, Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said Wednesday.
“During the week off we don’t want to have conferences going on,” Gaetz said after speaking at the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s International Days event at Florida State University. “Every representative and every senator ought to have the opportunity to keep an eye on things they’re interested in. And they can’t do that back home.”
Gaetz said the conference schedule for the appropriations committees should be available by the end of next week.
The House has approved a $75.3 billion spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1. The Senate has countered with a $74.9 billion proposal. Both packages exceed the $74.2 billion budget proposed by Gov. Rick Scott.
The session ends May 2, but the budget has to be finalized by April 29 because of a required 72-hour review period.
by The News Service of Florida