Man Faces 330 Years After Child Sex Abuse Conviction
February 28, 2014
A Santa Rosa County man is facing a sentence of over 300 years after being convicted on child sex abuse charges.
A jury found Donzell Kevin Nuckles of Pace guilty of 10 counts of sexual battery upon a child by a person in familial or custodial authority and two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation for crimes he committed against three young girls while he and his family lived in Pace.
Between February 2011 and October 2012, Nuckles committed various sexual offenses against three victims, ages 12 to 17 at the time the crimes were committed. The abuse was reported to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s office in November 2012 and was investigated by Dectective Larry Tynes.
All three victims testified during the trial about the abuse they suffered. As a result of the sexual abuse, one of the girls became pregnant and gave birth to the defendant’s child. DNA evidence introduced at trial confirmed that Nuckles was the father of that child.
After his conviction, Nuckles was immediately remanded to the Santa Rosa County Jail by Circuit Judge John L. Miller. Nuckles will remain in jail without bond until his sentencing on April 15. The 40-year old old Nuckles faces a maximum sentence of 330 years in prison.
Lawmakers Now Ready To Push ‘No Fault’ Off Florida Roads
February 28, 2014
There is little chance Florida lawmakers will abandon the “no-fault” auto insurance system during the upcoming legislative session, giving more time to a 2012 reform effort backed by Gov. Rick Scott.
Senate Banking and Insurance Chairman David Simmons maintains that the four-decade-old Personal Injury Protection, or no-fault, system can’t be fixed and needs to be abandoned before courts possibly could strike down the 2012 law.
However, the Altamonte Springs Republican, who has led key Senate insurance issues, doesn’t plan during the legislative session that starts Tuesday to advance any measures that would replace no fault with a bodily-injury coverage requirement.
“You can be assured that if there is some catalyst, such as a court ruling or that the insurers are able to build a coalition to get some movement on getting rid of PIP, you can be assured that I’ll be the first one to file a bill,” Simmons said. “But I’m not going to do anything until there is a greater consensus among both the stakeholders and the legislators.”
While a challenge to the law is now before the Florida Supreme Court, the emergence of such a catalyst, Simmons said, could take a couple of years.
That should be good news for Scott and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who championed the 2012 reforms and have maintained their support for the changes aimed at reducing rampant fraud in the system that caused premium increases.
With some of the law’s changes only going into effect last year, quickly abandoning the reform effort could be seen as a failure of one of their policies.
Scott, in a statement from his office Thursday, noted that since the law went into effect, Florida drivers have seen their PIP premiums drop by an average of 13 percent.
“Two years ago, PIP premiums were expected to increase by an average of 29 percent in Florida — and we fought to keep the cost of living low for Florida families,” Scott said in the statement. “That’s why we worked to pass legislation to lower PIP rates by increasing licensing standards for medical clinics, establishing strong penalties for those who commit PIP fraud, and creating a statewide anti-fraud task force.”
Simmons said he’s talked with Scott and Atwater but doesn’t share their view on no-fault. Yet the senator also isn’t ready to go as far as some national insurers who he says are in favor of ending no-fault.
The move to bodily injury coverage wouldn’t require much change for the majority of Florida motorists. The state Office of Insurance Regulation has estimated that more than 70 percent of motorists already have some bodily injury coverage.
The impact would be on post-crash recoveries.
Under PIP, motorists can receive up to $10,000 to cover medical costs from crashes, regardless of who is at fault. But bodily injury coverage would send more people to court as injured parties would seek to recoup expenses from at-fault motorists.
Donovan Brown, state government relations counsel for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, said many in the industry contend the 2012 law should be given time to take hold.
“You typically need a couple years of implementation to get credible data to weigh out the effect of the reforms,” Brown said. “It’s just human nature. On the day this bill was passed, folks were immediately asking ‘What happened? Where’s the change?’ But really it was ongoing into 2013 as the changes rolled on to consumers’ policies.”
He added that some insurance companies have held off on implementing the recommended reductions to no-fault premiums until the court battle is concluded.
The 2012 law, considered a last-ditch effort to maintain the no-fault system, set benchmarks for insurers to lower rates on personal-injury protection coverage. It required people involved in motor vehicle crashes to seek treatment within 14 days, allowing up to $10,000 in benefits for emergency medical conditions, while putting a $2,500 cap on non-emergency conditions.
A Leon County circuit judge ruled the law illegally prevents accident patients from using PIP coverage to pay for treatment by acupuncturists and massage therapists and limits the services from chiropractors.
But the 1st District Court of Appeal in October reversed the ruling, saying challengers needed a “factual” motorist who had been harmed by the law, rather than a hypothetical “Jane Doe” as listed in the lawsuit, for the case to proceed.
If the Supreme Court sides with the challengers, the fight will return to the lower courts. If the Supreme Court sides with the state, the challenge is expected to be reintroduced with new named plaintiffs.
Meanwhile, the expected rate savings also haven’t been as dramatic as first envisioned.
The reforms required insurers to submit rate filings to the Office of Insurance Regulation on October 1, 2012 and January 1, 2014. Cumulatively, the two rate filings were expected to reflect a drop in PIP rates of 25 percent or insurers must show why they could not meet that goal.
In January, the state office reported that of the top 20 insurers by market share in Florida, 14 lowered rates for the no-fault coverage, half reaching the 25 percent mark. However, a majority of firms raised overall rates.
As an example, Geico General Insurance Co., the state’s largest auto insurer, reported a 25 percent reduction in its PIP rates, which translated into only a 0.6 reduction in its overall auto-insurance rate.
“A system that is so fundamentally flawed will have to be changed,” Simmons said. “Every three years the Legislature has gone back and done PIP reform. You just look at PIP, it’s a patient that has bandages all over it from trying to be fixed, and it’s still as sick as can be.”
Simmons has been working on legislation to replace PIP since the end of the 2013 session, and a measure (HB 267) filed in the House by Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, would repeal the “Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law” and allow Floridians to carry only bodily injury coverage.
Trujillo’s measure, filed Nov. 5, has yet to be brought up for a committee vote.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Jana Pavlus Named Escambia Teacher Of The Year
February 28, 2014
Jana Pavlus of Woodham Middle School was named the Escambia County’s Teacher of the Year Thursday night during the 29th Annual Golden Apple Awards Banquet. The banquet honored each of the Teachers of the Year from each school and program in the county.
Other finalists for the Escambia County Teacher of the Year were : Dawn Jackson, Beulah Elementary; Amanda Cravatt, Hellen Caro Elementary; Pamela Cebula, N.B. Cook Elementary; and Katie Strength, R.C. Lipscomb Elementary.
The 60 Teachers of the Year from across the county were:
- Alternative Education - Aaron Dubreuil
- Jim Allen Elementary - Wynell Gainey
- Jim C. Bailey Middle - Tracey Burnett
- Bellview Elementary - Trudy Laird
- Bellview Middle - Suzanne Edington
- Beulah Academy of Science - Kristina Angus
- Beulah Elementary - Dawn Jackson
- Blue Angels Elementary - Jamie Dufurrena
- Bratt Elementary - Sherri Carter
- Brentwood Elementary - Alison Brantley
- Brown-Barge Middle - Lalla Pierce
- Byrneville Elementary - Amanda Dawson
- Camelot Academy - Ashley Phillips
- Hellen Caro Elementary - Amanda Cravatt
- N.B. Cook Elementary - Pamela Cebula
- Cordova Park Elementary - Amanda Lagergren
- Ensley Elementary - Julie Jones
- Escambia Charter - Matthew Alexander
- Escambia High - Trish Andrews
- Escambia Westgate - Ashley McCombs
- Ferry Pass Elementary - John Blackwelder
- Ferry Pass Middle - Maureen Humphrey
- Global Learning Academy - Janet Kay Spencer
- Holm Elementary - Lynette Chandler
- Lakeview School - Sherry King
- Lincoln Park Elementary - LaTris Sykes
- R.C. Lipscomb Elementary - Katie Strength
- Longleaf Elementary - Stella Owens
- McArthur Elementary - Lynn Powell
- McMillan Pre-K - Renee Khatena
- Molino Park Elementary - Rebecca Hatch
- Montclair Elementary School - Edelsa Chalanczuk
- Myrtle Grove Elementary - Sharon Bradley
- Navy Point Elementary - Jennifer Griffiths
- Newpoint Academy - Alisa Wilson
- Newpoint Pensacola - Tanya Pope
- Northview High - Terri Jernigan
- Oakcrest Elementary - Angela Nicks
- PATS Center - Allison Rhodes
- Pensacola High - Melissa Marsh
- Pine Forest High - Charles Cather
- Pine Meadow Elementary - Marisa Vulcano
- Pleasant Grove Elementary - Alice Downs
- Ransom Middle - Holly Kendrick
- Scenic Heights Elementary - Lacy Zimmerman
- O.J.Semmes Elementary - Tamiko Womack
- Sherwood Elementary - Georgia Seitz
- George Stone Technical Center - Craig Spoke
- A.K. Suter Elementary - Lauren Farmer
- J.M. Tate High - Brian Caldwell
- Title 1 - Rayeko McCartan
- Ernest Ward Middle - Kathleen C. Ellis
- Warrington Elementary - Rachael Farmer
- Warrington Middle - Tourischeva Knecole Lambert
- Booker T. Washington High - Jade Brown
- C.A. Weis Elementary - Nan Nevels
- West Florida High - Cathy Organt
- West Pensacola Elementary - Majorca McQueen
- Woodham Middle - Jana Pavlus
- Workman Middle - Leslie Cuyuch
Cottage Hill Water Works Rescinds Boil Water Notice
February 28, 2014
Cottage Hill Water Works has issued a rescinded aboil water notice for McKenzie Road, Handy Road, Chavers Road, Smyers Road, Grenelefe Drive, Cottage Park Raod, Elna Road and the Huntington Subdivision.
This notice was issued Tuesday following a water main leak. Bacterial sampling indicated that the water is now safe to drink. For more information, contact Cottage Hill Water Works at (850) 968-5485.
Feds Warn They Are Cracking Down On Local Tax Fraud
February 28, 2014
United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh and Special Agent in Charge James D. Robnett of the Tampa Field Office of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation jointly announced Thursday their increased local efforts to enforce federal income tax laws as the tax-filing season is underway.
From Pensacola to Gainesville, legal actions for violations of tax and monetary laws have surged. Recent trials found two guilty in Panama City of more than $500,000 in stolen identity refund fraud; six defendants throughout the district pleaded guilty in separate cases involving more than $3 million in tax fraud; and judgments of eight defendants in Pensacola, Panama City, and Tallahassee netted sentences ranging from 24 to 78 months, more than $6 million in forfeiture, and an estimated $900,000 in restitution.
These recent activities, along with the indictment of five more individuals, make up part of the increased enforcement efforts over the recent weeks.
“As the number of crooks willing to steal identities and tax dollars has grown, so has our ability to track, investigate, arrest, and prosecute these cases. We will pursue criminal prosecutions of all who engage in these illegal activities, with intensity,” Marsh said. “Further, to those who contemplate filing fraudulent tax returns, the recent sentences handed down by our courts should serve as a warning that offenders face serious punishment. Honest, hardworking taxpayers are entitled to this protection by law enforcement. We are ready for tax season.”
“Our office, in partnership with prosecutors and law enforcement officers throughout the state, will dedicate the necessary resources to make an impact in the fight against fraud. You, the taxpaying members of the public, should have confidence that those who do not pay their fair share of taxes, and who steal your hard earned money, will be held accountable,” said Robnett.
Baseball Roundup
February 28, 2014
Here are scores from some area games Thursday night:
The 9th grade Tate Aggies beat Escambia 10-0 to improve to 3-2. The JV Aggies beat the Gators 6-5 upping their record to 5-2-1.
In the Escambia County (Ala.) Tournament, W.S. Neal beat the Flomaton Hurricanes 16-3 in five innings. Play resumes Friday afternoon at 4:00 as W.S. Neal takes on Escambia County High School (Atmore), and T.R. Miller will play Flomaton at 6:30 p.m.
Dying Man’s Missing Dog Has Been Found
February 27, 2014
The story of Max, the missing St. Bernard from Molino, has come to a bittersweet end…..he has been found and is now safely at home.
Tuesday, we first published the story of Max….he went missing Sunday morning when the wind blew open a gate at his home on North 95A near Highway 97. A desperate search followed because Max’s owner was at the time in the very end stages of a terminal illness and was thought to only have a few days to live.
The family made the plea for help in finding Max so the owner and Max could be reunited, but the owner passed away Tuesday afternoon before Max was found Wednesday afternoon.
After our story and after it was shared hundreds and hundreds of times on Facebook, a community came together to look for Max.
Here is our original story:
Update: Max’s owner passed away Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after this story was published. The search for Max continues.
The Molino community is being asked to keep an eye out for Max, a large St. Bernard dog that’s missing.
It’s a bit urgent that Max be returned home quickly…his owner is in the very end stages of a terminal illness and may only have a few days to live. The owner desperately wants to be reunited with Max during his remaining days.
Max was last seen Sunday morning. The wind blew open a gate at his home on North Highway 95A near Highway 97 and he wandered away.
Anyone that sees Max should call Mike at (850) 232-0329 or call (850) 712-2452.
Only Two Citizens Register Barnyard Animals Under Century Ordinance
February 27, 2014
Only two Century citizens voluntarily registered their non-conforming barnyard animals with town hall during a 60 day grace period following the passage of a strict animal control ordinance.
Residents of the 7900 block of Jefferson Avenue registered 2.5 miniature horses, explaining that one is pregnant and due in June, and a resident of the 9300 block of Old Flomaton Road registered one horse, according to town records.
As of December 23, it became illegal to keep a horse, mule, donkey, goat, sheep, or cow within the town limits except in areas that are zoned agricultural or rural residential. Hogs were already prohibited in all areas of the town.
One horse or cow is now allowed for every two acres, one donkey or mule per acre and one goat or sheep per one-half acre. The animals and their pens must be 200 feet or greater from a dwelling or property line.
Anyone with the regulated animals in an area not zoned agricultural or rural residential within the town limits, was required to register their animals at the Century Town Hall within 60 days from the passage of the ordinance. Anyone with nonconforming animals must apply for and be granted a variance from the town council within six months or get rid of their animals.
Century Mayor Freddie McCall, the town’s planner and an Escambia County Animal Control officer plan to start making site visits Thursday to properties where they believe non-conforming barnyard animals should have been registered to urge compliance.
Pictured inset: Council member Jacke Johnston reads the new animal control ordinance during a December 23 meeting. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Florida Man Executed For Killing Trooper With Pipe Bomb
February 27, 2014
Paul Augustus Howell, who was sent to Death Row for the 1992 murder of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, was executed Wednesday at Florida State Prison near Stark. Howell, 48, was pronounced dead at 6:32 p.m., according to the Gov. Rick Scott’s office.
Howell, who had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as his final meal, was the 15th Death Row inmate executed in Florida since Scott took office in 2011. There were five executions during former Gov. Charlie Crist’s single term and 21 during the two terms of former Gov. Jeb Bush.
Howell was convicted in January 1995 in the death of FHP trooper Jimmy Fulford during a traffic stop three years earlier. Fulford was killed by a pipe bomb that Howell had put inside a microwave oven and placed in a gift-wrapped package. The bomb was intended for a Marianna woman who could identify Howell, who with his brother was involved in a South Florida drug ring, for a prior murder.
On Feb. 13 of this year, Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey ruled that a new lethal-injection drug used by the state would not violate Howell’s rights. The hearing, held in Jefferson County Circuit Court at the direction of the Florida Supreme Court, focused on the state’s use of midazolam hydrochloride as the first drug in a three-drug cocktail in executions. Midazolam, which the state began using last year, is supposed to anesthetize prisoners before the other drugs are administered.
Howell’s attorneys contended that the inmate has medical conditions that would lead to the drug not working properly, violating the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
FHP: No Positive ID On Fiery Century Crash Victim; Family Holds Memorial Service
February 27, 2014
The Florida Highway Patrol said Wednesday that it may be a month or more before they are able to positively identify the victim of a fiery single vehicle accident early Saturday morning in Century.
The FHP said the vehicle was burned so badly that no identifying information remained. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is also working on the case, attempting to use DNA for positive identification of the victim’s remains. That process could take several weeks.
Foul play was not suspected in the crash, according the FHP.
Friends and family members have identified the victim as Tara Valinda Ferguson Moore, age 40 of Flomaton. Moore was a LPN and substitute teacher in the Escambia County (Ala.) School System. A memorial service was held in her honor Wednesday afternoon at the Brewton First Baptist Church.
The burning vehicle was discovered by a passing Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy about 3:55 a.m. on Fannie Road just northeast of Campbell Road, across from the Happy Valley Holiness Church.
After the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue extinguished the blaze, the victim was discovered in the driver’s seat area of the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the vehicle as an unknown year model Toyota sedan.
The driver was apparently headed east on Fannie Road when they failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the roadway, down an embankment and struck several trees on the shore of a gravel lake. A post-crash fire completely gutted the vehicle.
The Florida Highway Patrol was unable to identify the driver of the vehicle at the scene. Further details have not yet been released as the FHP continues their investigation.
Pictured top and inset: One person was killed in this fiery crash in Century early Saturday morning. Pictured below: The vehicle shortly after the fire department extinguished the blaze. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
