FDLE Arrests Local Crime Lab Chemist
February 5, 2014
Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents arrested former Pensacola crime-lab chemist Joseph Graves Tuesday evening, three days after announcing he might have compromised hundreds of state drug cases, the agency said.
Graves was arrested at the Escambia County Jail, and he was released a short time later on a $290,000 bond. Graves is charged with grand theft, 12 counts of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and nine counts of trafficking in illegal drugs. Additional charges are possible.
Investigators believe that Graves, while processing drug cases, replaced prescription pain pills with over-the-counter medications.
“The actions of Joseph Graves are disgraceful,” FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey said in a statement. “FDLE is working with state attorneys’ offices statewide to ensure he is held accountable for his actions.”
FDLE began the investigation last month, collaborating with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and State Attorney Bill Eddins, after prescription pain pills from the evidence room at the sheriff’s office went missing. Investigators determined that each case involving missing drugs had been analyzed by Graves, who was relieved of duty Friday. He had been a crime lab analyst in Pensacola since December 2005, and was promoted to supervisor in July 2009.
FDLE teams are inspecting evidence from all cases handled by Graves to determine which of the cases could be compromised. He handled nearly 2,600 cases for 80 law enforcement agencies spanning 35 counties and 12 judicial circuits. Eddins will prosecute the case; the investigation is ongoing.
House Panel Backs Ban On Insurers Discriminating Against Gun Owners
February 5, 2014
Insurance companies could face tougher penalties if they impose higher rates, refuse to issue or cancel auto or homeowner policies due to gun ownership, under a measure backed by a House committee Tuesday.
Florida law already prohibits such action, but Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said his proposal (HB 255) would provide a remedy other than with the state Office of Insurance Regulation by allowing a policyholder to sue if an insurer took such an action.
“It just gives greater access to courts,” Gaetz said. “It’s unlawful now, but the only entity that has the ability to enforce it right now is OIR.”
A staff analysis of the bill notes that “an issue with the current law is that it lacks specific authority to take action against any insurers which violate the proscribed behavior.”
Gaetz added that while such actions by insurers haven’t been seen in Florida, cases have been tracked in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
“In Florida that has not been a circumstance, but this is a prophylactic in the event that events we’ve seen in other parts of the country proliferate here,” Gaetz said.
Rep. Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach, an insurance agent, cast the lone vote on the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee against the measure. He called the measure “unnecessary.”
“If an insurance company wants to exclude assault-type weapons, it seems to me that it is good to exclude if they desire to,” Rader said. “Certainly I know on animal exclusions they exclude Doberman pinschers and rottweilers.”
Gaetz said insurance companies wouldn’t be prohibited from asking potential policy holders about gun ownership, nor would they face state scrutiny if they lowered rates for a gun owner based on an actuarial determination that gun ownership reduced the risk of burglaries.
Insurers also wouldn’t be prohibited from charging a supplemental premium, as long as it’s not deemed unfairly discriminatory, to insure a firearm or firearm collection.
National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer said the issue was raise due as Citizens Property Insurance Corp. had included a question in its new policy clearinghouse regarding gun ownership.
“The only reason for insurance companies to start asking you about what guns you want is so they can discriminate against gun owners,” Hammer said. “They have no right to ask those questions.”
A spokesman for Citizens said the question is no longer a part of the clearinghouse questionnaire.
The question was included in early testing of the site, as one of the four private companies currently set up to potentially receive new policies, United Property & Casualty Insurance Co., has been allowed by OIR since 2005 to consider firearms when underwriting policies.
Sandra Starnes, OIR director of property and casualty product review, said United is allowed to exclude homeowners if they are “in possession of dangerous firearms.”
Assault and rapid fire weapons could be classified as “dangerous,” but game hunting rifles and shot guns would be excluded from the prohibition, she said.
The measure must still get through the Civil Justice Subcommittee and Regulatory Affairs Committee.
The Senate companion (SB 424) has already been backed by the Banking and Insurance and the Criminal Justice committees, and has only to clear the Appropriations Committee before reaching the Senate floor.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Domino’s Pizza Hiring In Cantonment, Pensacola
February 5, 2014
Domino’s pizza is looking to fill 70 full and part time positions at its locations in Cantonment and Pensacola.
To apply for the part time customer service or delivery driver positions you are encouraged to attend a job fair on February 10th from 5-7 p.m. If you want to apply for a full time management position there is another job fair on February 19th from 7:30- 9:30 am. Both job fairs will be held at the Lexington Terrace Community Center on South Old Corry Field Road in Pensacola.
Escambia Sex Offender Sentenced On Federal Child Porn, Ammunition Charges
February 5, 2014
Escambia County resident Clay Calhoun Keys, 53. was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in federal prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release on charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers also sentenced Keys 10 years in prison for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, which will run concurrent with his sentence for child pornography.
Keys was previously convicted in state court for a lewd and lascivious act upon a child and is a registered sexual offender.
Keys was found guilty of using peer-to-peer software between April 2009 and August 2013 to share thousands of images of child pornography online. A federal search warrant was obtained for Keys’ residence in August 2013, and law enforcement officers discovered more than 10,000 images and videos of child pornography.
Century Looks To Purchase Acreage Around Sewage Plant
February 5, 2014
The Town of Century is looking to purchase 112 acres that surround their waste waster treatment facility off Jefferson Avenue.
The property was recently foreclosed upon by the Bank of Brewton, and now the bank is looking to sell the somewhat less than desirable tract.
Mayor Freddie McCall said about 30 acres of the property could be used in the future to expand the waster water treatment plant, while the remaining 80 acres or so is mostly wetlands. That wetland acreage could be used by the town to offset other land and building projects in the future, McCall said.
The Century Town Council has authorized the mayor to negotiate a best price with the bank.
Pictured: An aerial view of the Century Waste Water Treatment Facility just off Jefferson Avenue. Courtesy image for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Northview Honors Girls Weightlifting Team
February 5, 2014
The Northview High Schools Girls Weightlifting team was recognized Tuesday during their annual banquet.
The lifters received certificates, pins, and letters for their dedication to the growing sport. In order to letter, the girls had to participate in five meets.
“Most of the girls participate in other sports and use weightlifting as a segue to enhance their abilities and strength. Girl’s weightlifting is increasing in popularity at Northview and statewide,” said Coach Natalie Nall. “Any upcoming athletic, girl to Northview is encouraged to sign up for girl’s weightlifting.”
Awards were presented as follows (coach’s comments included):
Team Award – Addie Lee
She participated in all meets with her team spirit. Nothing stops Addie from cheering on a teammate and pushing her to a new goal. She is passionate and works to her highest potential
MVL- Most Valuable Lifters
Lindsey Gafford – made it to the district meet placing 3rd at the sub. district meet and scoring 18 total points throughout the season.
Breanna Campbell - placed 4th at the sub. district meet and scoring a total of 14 points throughout the season.
Coach’s Awards- The following girls were selected from their weightlifting performance during school and at meets.
Madalyn Coon- Senior- Improving her combo score to a 205, earning 6 points for the team, and always pushing the girls in class to do more and be stronger.
Tiffani Pritchett-Senior- Improving her combo score to a 165 and earning 6 points for the team. Her enthusiastic little frame was nothing to mess with in class. She worked hard to improve her personal goals and she wanted better for her team.
Olivia Neal –Senior- Improving her combo score to a 235 and earning 10 points for her team. She would come to class to work and help others to learn techniques. Her strength carried on to the cheer squad.
Courtney Weaver-Senior- Improving her combo score to a 180 and earning 8 points for her team. She is always ready to work diligently to correct technique and build strength.
Zacarra Davis –Senior- Improving her combo score to a 190 and earning 6 points for her team. Her dedication to ROTC, basketball, and weightlifting keeps her extremely busy. However, she still finds time to motivate others, and maintain her good grades.
Pictured top: The Northview High School Girls Weightlifting Team. Pictured inset: Coach’s Award winners (front, L-R) Courtney Weaver, Olivia Neal, (back) Zacarra Davis, Tiffani Pitchett. Pictured below: (L-R) Most Valuable Lifters Lindsey Gafford and Breanna Campbell and Team Award winner Addie Lee. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Democrats Say Scott’s Budget Not So Rosey
February 5, 2014
Democrats argued Tuesday that Gov. Rick Scott was disingenuously portraying his budget for the coming fiscal year as Republicans stayed largely silent during the first legislative hearing on Scott’s $74.2 billion spending plan.
Scott has framed the budget as one that would slash taxes, boost spending on public education and provide relief from waiting lists for state services. But Democrats sought to undermine the blueprint for the budget year that begins July 1, arguing that the governor is overemphasizing the positive aspects of the plan.
Rep. Reggie Fulwood, D-Jacksonville, argued that the governor’s “historic” funding for education, for example, still falls short of the level of per-student funding provided in the 2007-08 budget, the high-water mark for that figure. Scott’s budget does set aside the largest amount of raw dollars for public education in the state’s history.
And Fulwood pointed to the fact that $374.7 million of Scott’s proposed $542 million increase for schools would come from local property taxes.
“It appears in this budget, and I hope you can correct me, that we’re shifting a lot of the funding requirements to our local governments and their property taxes,” he said.
Scott’s budget director Cynthia Kelly responded that the state’s 56.4 percent share of the funding “is one of the highest state percentages in recent years.” However, education funding reports on the governor’s budget website show that the state provided almost 57.2 percent of the money in the state’s main funding source for schools last year.
Democrats repeatedly pushed Kelly for specifics about how many patients would be left on waiting lists for certain state services after Scott’s proposed funding to reduce the size of those waiting lists. Scott would cut waiting lists for some services for the elderly by more than 2,000 individuals and provide services for more than 1,000 of the highest-need individuals seeking waivers from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
House Appropriations Chairman Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, appeared to lose patience with the questions. When House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, asked Kelly whether the size of the waiting lists for elderly services would be “in the ballpark of 50,000,” the budget director turned and began consulting with a staff member until McKeel stepped in.
“No. Cynthia, don’t. Cynthia, stop,” he said. “She has told you and many members of the caucus that she will get that list to you of the waiting list.”
Pafford said after the meeting that the GOP appeared to be choreographing the session’s budget discussions for political purposes.
“Frankly, the fact that the chair asked the governor’s staff person to not turn around and try to get those numbers when staff appeared to be able to come up with something demonstrates that what the Republican Party of Florida is doing is painting a legislative session that’s going to be smooth sailing to benefit the governor,” he said.
Speaking with reporters later about the APD waiting list, which has about 20,000 on it, McKeel said GOP leaders were trying to chip away at the list as economic conditions allow.
“Look, my goal is to take as many people as we can possibly take off the waiting list,” he said.
And he disputed the notion that Republicans — who offered only a couple of questions about the budget — were giving the governor’s plan an unusually easy hearing. Instead, McKeel said Scott’s office had done a good job this year in briefing lawmakers on the details of his budget.
“We pretty much knew what the governor’s proposals were before today, and that’s a good thing,” he said.
Oh What-A-Night: Burgers Mean Bucks For Band
February 5, 2014
The Northview High School Tribal Beat Band held a successful fund raiser Tuesday night at Whataburger in Century.
During a three hour period, the burger chain donated 20 percent of their proceeds to the band. There were also games and a drawing for a free Whataburger each week for an entire year. Plus, Northview High School band members helped serve food during the night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Craigslist Deal Gone Bad: Two Charged In Shots Fired Near Walmart
February 4, 2014
Two people were arrested after shots were fired near the Ensley Walmart Tuesday afternoon following a Craiglist deal gone bad.
Darius Arlornio Beasley, 21, and Jamichael Tremaine Tucker, 19, were arrested after deputies responded to a report of an attempted robbery of an individual and shots fired incident about 1:20 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 29 and Hood Drive.
The victim told the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office he met Beasley in a parking lot to sell him a $4,500 gold ring that he had advertised on Craigslist. The victim and Beasley completed their transaction inside the victim’s vehicle. After the money was exchanged, Tucker allegedly pointed a gun at the victim and tried unsuccessfully to kidnap him before the victim ran away.
Beasley and Tucker began to flee the scene in their truck at which time the victim gave chase in his truck. Tucker allegedly fired from the window a moving vehicle at the victim.
Deputies observed the suspect’s and victim’s vehicles as they entered the WalMart parking lot from Palafox Street where a felony traffic stop was conducted without incident.
Tucker was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, robbery with a firearm, deadly missiles, kidnapping, discharging a firearm from a moving vehicle, discharging a firearm in public and tampering with evidence. Beasley was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, robbery with a firearm, and possession of marijuana.
Tucker’s bond was set at $125,500, while Beasley remained jailed with bond set at $103,000.
Pictured: Crime scene technicians and Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies around a vehicle in the Ensley Walmart parking lot following a shots fired incident Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Most Crimes, Except Murders, Down Last Year In Escambia County
February 4, 2014
Overall high profile crime dropped in the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction last year, according the 2013 crime report released Monday by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, with indexed crimes down 3.3 percent.
Most notably not following the downward trend was the murder rate, up 73.3 percent. There were 26 murders in ECSO territory in 2013, up from 15 in 2012. The number of motor vehicle thefts were also up, increasing by 18.9 percent.
Overall violent crimes were down 9.3 percent, crimes against persons down 8.7 percent, and overall property crimes down 2.9 percent. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office offense clearance rate (cases solved) was up 2.7 percent, while arrests were down 6.1 percent.
There was also reduction in domestic violence offenses in Escambia County. The total number of domestic violence offenses in 2013 were down 12.56 percent from 2012 to 2013.
The statistics released Monday include numbers only from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; other law enforcement agencies in the county such as the Pensacola Police Department were not included.