Flomaton Man Charged With Sexual Abuse Of 5-Year Old Boy
December 20, 2013
A Flomaton man has been charged with performing sexual acts on a 5-year old boy.
Casey Reed Kyle, 26, was arrested by the Flomaton Police Department on one felony count of first degree sodomy on a child under 12 years old. He was booked into the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton.
The Flomaton Police Department was notified of the alleged abuse by the child’s parents. When questioned by police, Kyle admitted performing the sexual acts, according to Flomaton Police Chief Byran Davis. He said authorities are continuing their investigation to determine if there might be any other victims in the case.
Anyone with information about the case or any other information about Kyle is asked to contact the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or their nearest law enforcement agency.
Schools: Christmas Break Begins
December 20, 2013
For all Escambia County public schools, Friday marked the last day of school until next year.
Christmas break began Friday. Students will return to school on January 7, 2014.
Teachers will return to the classrooms a day earlier, on January 6, for a work day. The next school holiday will be Monday, January 20 for Martin Luther King Day.
Murder Trial Postponed For Molino Mom Claiming Self Defense
December 20, 2013
A Molino woman that claimed she shot her husband in self defense appeared in court Thursday.
The second degree murder trial of 43-year old Rebecca A. Rogers was set to begin January 6, but Thursday Circuit Judge Ross Goodman approved a defense request to delay her jury trial until early March.
Rogers has entered a not guilty plea to the charges against her. She remains free on a $300,000 bond posted in late September.
She allegedly shot her husband, 42-year old Jason Lee Rogers, in the head last August at the couple’s home in the in the 3400 block of Highway 29 near Mathison Road. He died about two days later.
The shooting was domestic violence related, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Rebecca Rogers called 911 to say that her husband choked her and she shot him, according to an arrest report. Deputies arrived to find Rebecca Rogers standing outside the home. They found Jason Rogers lying unconscious in the back bedroom of the home on his stomach with what appeared to be a gunshot to his head. According to the report, he also suffered two other gunshot wounds to the back.
The couple had four daughters together.
Stolen Coins Lead To Felony Charges
December 20, 2013
A Century woman is facing felony charges for allegedly stealing checks and silver coins from her mother.
Sunceree Covan Bledsoe, 48, was charged with felony grand theft and felony dealing in stolen property. She remained in the Escambia County Jail early Friday morning with bond set at $18,500.
Bledsoe’s mother accused her of stealing two checks and antique silver coins with a face value of $298 that were worth an estimated $1,o00. Bledsoe allegedly sold some of the coins to a Jefferson Avenue resident for $10 cash.
Bledsoe then allegedly redeemed additional coins at a coin to cash machine at the Century Food Giant, receiving $28.09 .
Governor Appoints Cantonment Man To Board Of Physical Therapy
December 20, 2013
Gov . Rick Scott announced 16 reappointments to medical quality assurance health boards throughout the state on Thursday, including that of a Cantonment man.
Clint E. Lohr, 41, was reappointed to the Board of Physical Therapy Practice by the governor. Lohr is the corporate director of rehabilitation for Baptist Health Care. He was reappointed for a term beginning December 19, 2013, and ending October 31, 2017.
The reappointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Santa Visits The Century Library’s Annual Christmas Program
December 20, 2013
Santa made a special visit to the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon, hearing those special last minute requests for items like tablet computers, video games, dolls, clothes and more.
The event also included a Christmas story, a craft, a gift from an elf and more.
Pictured: The annual Christmas program at the Century Branch Library Thursday afternoon included a visit from Santa Claus. Submitted photos by August Whorff for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$88,113 Lottery Ticket Expires Today
December 20, 2013
A winning Fantasy 5 prize winning ticket worth $88,113.47 remains unclaimed and becomes worthless in a few hours. The 180-day deadline to claim the top prize in Friday at midnight.
The winning Fantasy 5 numbers for the June 23 drawing were 05-07-12-24-35.
The ticket was purchased at the Kangaroo Express at 3225 West Nine Mile Road in Pensacola.
Escambia Man Gets 35 Years For Molesting 10-Year Old
December 20, 2013
A 51-year old Escambia County has sentenced to more than three decades in prison for molesting a child
Ricky Paul Lombardi was convicted by Escambia County Jury of lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12. He was sentenced Thursday to 35 years is state prison to be followed by a lifetime of probation. He was also designated as a sexual predator.
The charges stemmed from a 10-year-old victim who awoke on the couch with the defendant’s hand in their pants. The victim immediately ran into their mother’s room, woke her up and told her. The defendant was living in the house as a friend and tenant, but has no relation to the victim. The mother reported the incident the next morning. The child gave consistent disclosure to law enforcement and to the Child Protection Team.
The victim’s clothing was collected. After testing, the defendant’s DNA was located inside the child’s underwear.
Lombardi had a prior conviction for lewd and lascivious molestation in 1993.
FDLE Arrests Six In Fradulent Document Escape Scheme
December 20, 2013
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Thursday announced the arrests of six current and former prison inmates in a continuing investigation into two escapes using forged documents last fall.
The six face a combined 37 charges of conspiracy, escape, forgery and harboring an escaped prisoner. Those charged include Charles Walker and Joseph Jenkins, who were serving life sentences for murder from Orange County and now face additional charges.
The two men escaped from Franklin Correctional Institution using bogus court paperwork indicating their sentences had been reduced: Jenkins on Sept. 27 and Walker on Oct. 8. They were captured in Panama City Beach on Oct. 19.
Authorities know of five other attempted escapes using the same method, including two that were underway when the fraud was discovered. One of the prior attempts was by Jenkins. The attempts occurred at the Franklin Correctional and Gulf Correctional institutions and the Pinellas County Jail.
FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey said the “very complex investigation” will continue.
“These arrests represent significant progress in this case, and we definitely have a more clear understanding of the fraud,” Bailey said. “But it’s important that you understand this is still an active investigation. We still have numerous leads and evidence to filter through.”
Bailey described Nydeed Nashaddai, 48, as “the engineer of the scheme” and “the first to use it before passing his knowledge on to his fellow inmates.” Nashaddai is at Suwannee Correctional Institution and faces an additional four counts in connection with Walker and Jenkins’ escapes.
Also arrested:
Willie Slater Jr., 36, who faces nine counts for his outside role, which included ensuring that the forged documents arrived at the Orange County Clerk of Court’s office.
Terrance Goodman, 37, who drove Jenkins and Walker to Panama City and rented them a motel room. He faces one count of harboring a fugitive and two counts of conspiracy to commit escape.
Jeffrey Forbes, 30, an inmate at Florida State Prison, who faces four counts including escape, conspiracy and forgery.
The forged documents used by Walker and Jenkins were created at Franklin Correctional Institution and included the seal of the Orange County clerk of court’s office and signatures of circuit officials, including Ninth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. and Orange County State Attorney Jeffrey Ashton.
Bailey said so far, the investigation hasn’t pointed to anyone in authority in the criminal justice system being a part of the scheme.
“We have no indication … that anyone in the prison system or at the clerk’s office was involved with this fraud,” he said.
But Department of Corrections Secretary Michael Crews said authorities are still examining the role of the access that inmates had to computers and printers in the prison.
“We’re looking at what we legally have to provide,” he said.
The state expects to begin using a “secure e-system” in February 2014 to transmit court orders so as to close the door on similar attempts in the future.
Lawmakers will consider stiffening penalties for people who are involved in creating false court documents.
by Margie Menzel, The News Service of Florida
High School Grades Released; Penalty Takes ‘A’ From Northview And Tate
December 19, 2013
High school grades in Florida generally headed up across Florida, meaning the schools will face tougher standards next year.
In Escambia County, Northview High School improved one letter to a B grade, while the other high schools were unchanged – West Florida at an A ranking, Tate, Pensacola and Washington rated as B schools; and Pine Forest and Escambia rated as C schools.
Northview and Tate both actually earned more than enough points to receive an A rating, but both schools were penalized due to their at-risk student graduation rate.
Across the state, 8 percent of high school and “combination schools” received an A or a B in the 2012-13 school year, the state Department of Education said. The portion of high schools making the highest mark ticked up by one percentage point over 2011-12, to 48 percent, while 30 percent of schools made a B, slipping from 32 percent a year ago
“With more high schools earning A’s, it is clear that our teachers are succeeding in providing Florida students with a quality education,” Gov. Rick Scott said in a news release announcing the numbers.
But the high grades will also spark tougher standards under a State Board of Education rule, adopted in 2011, that requires the standards to rise if 75 percent of any group of schools makes the two highest marks. State officials said Wednesday this marked the first time the new rule has been used.
For example, high schools will now have to score 70 percent of the points available on the state’s grading system, up from 66 percent, to get an A. The standard will increase from 62 percent to 65 percent for a B, and there will be smaller increases in the scores necessary for C and D grades.
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart praised teachers and students for the progress.
“They are doing a good job, and it is really important that we continue to raise the bar as Florida his done, historically, over the years,” she said.
Stewart said that scores could still slip after new tests based on those standards are implemented because Common Core is expected to be more rigorous than the state’s current guidelines.
“I think it’s fair to say that, just as with this move on our high-school grading we are raising the bar, that’s what we’ll be doing in ‘14-’15,” she said.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.