McDavid Man Sentenced For Striking Deputy With Truck, Multiple Felonies
May 16, 2013
A McDavid man has been sentenced to prison for hitting an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy with his truck while trying to avoid arrest.
Yancey James Thompson, 43, was sentenced to three years in state prison for resisting an officer with violence, operating a vehicle with a revoked license as a habitual traffic offender, failure to appear on the traffic charge, and failure to appear and violating probation on charges of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, destroying evidence, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and resisting arrest without violence.
In December 2012 Senior Deputy Rudy Brown was on routine patrol when he stopped to check on the BP gas station in Davisville. When he entered the store, he recognized Yancey James Thompson who had felony warrants and a revoked driver’s license. Thompson fled the store in a blue Ford truck at a high rate of speed. Brown attempted unsuccessfully to follow Thompson, and later discovered that the pickup had been abandoned back behind the gas station.
Later, Brown was on patrol in Walnut Hill when he stopped at Mike’s Ag Air on Highway 97 where he observed Thompson. He approached Thompson, called him by name and told him he was under arrest for three active warrants. Thompson replied, “I ain’t going back to jail,” according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. Thompson then moved toward a white Chevrolet dually truck that was idling nearby.
Thompson got into the vehicle at about the same time Brown arrived at the truck door, the report states. Brown again told Thompson he was under arrest, opened the driver’s door and took hold of the steering wheel with his left hand. Thompson, the report states, again said stated was not going back to jail.
He then floored the accelerator in the truck, causing the back tires to spin and started to drag the deputy toward a field. Brown let go of the vehicle and attempted to get away, but he was struck by the the rear of the dually truck, injuring his back.
Thompson fled the area at a high rate of speed and eluded capture from responding backup deputies.
Senior Deputy Brown returned to a work a few days after the incident.
Pictured top: Yancey James Thompson. Pictured below: Senior Deputy Rudy Brown (left) is presented a a Life Saving Medal last year by Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Bus On Highway 29 In Molino
May 16, 2013
Fire destroyed a community transport bus Wednesday evening in Molino, shutting down southbound Highway 29 for over an hour.
The bus driver told officials that he had just let off a passenger and was headed southbound on Highway 29 when he noticed a lot of heat on his feet. The bus was fully involved when the first firefighters arrived on scene.
There were no injuries.
The Molino and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the fire.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Sentenced To 4.5 Years For Fraud
May 16, 2013
A Cantonment woman has been sentenced to four and a half years in federal prison for wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and failing to file a federal income tax return.
Kandi Kay Holden, 43, pled guilty in November 2012 to charges that she embezzled funds from her employer and failed to report this money as income on her federal income tax returns.
Between November 2004 and January 2011, Holden was employed in the bookkeeping and accounting department of Cantwell Steel Erectors, Inc., in Pensacola, Florida. Holden used her position there to make unauthorized wire transfers of approximately $282,000 from Cantwell Steel Erectors’ bank account to various bank accounts that she controlled.
As part of her sentence, Holden was ordered to pay $370,026.43 in restitution to Cantwell Steel Erectors and $90,145.59 in restitution to the I.R.S.
The case was the result of a joint investigation between the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations, according to U.S. Attorney Pamela C. Marsh.
Fallen Escambia Deputies Honored
May 16, 2013
Law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty were honored Wednesday by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Fraternal Order of Police. About a dozen Escambia County deputies have died in the line of duty — the first in 1923 and the most recent, Lt. George Hura, Jr., in 2004. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nursery, Church Team Up With Nursing Home For Gardening Time
May 16, 2013
In honor of National Nursing Home Week, Century United Methodist Church, and M&D nursery of Century pooled their efforts to create a gardening experience for the residents and staff at Century Care Center.
The residents were given a few lessons on planting and caring for an assortment of plants, with a few residents digging in and getting their hands dirty. The end was result was a more beautiful courtyard at the facility.
“The residents will be watching closely, as the plants grow and become even more beautiful,” said Mae Hildreth, Century Care’s activities director. “We have a wonderful and giving community.”
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Indicted For First Degree Murder
May 16, 2013
An Escambia County Grand Jury has indicted Taikwan Crosby for first degree murder in the death of James David Faucett.
Deputies responded to a burglary in progress call shortly before midnight on April 2 in the 1300 block Wisteria Avenue, near the Pensacola Country Club. Neighbors reported a man that was allegedly trying to break into a 2006 Honda Civic. Arriving deputies found James David Faucett, 60, in the living room of the residence. He had been beaten and stabbed.
Faucett was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS.
Tate’s Andrew Briske Signs With Misssissippi College
May 16, 2013
Tate High Schools senior Andrew Briske has signed to play defensive tackle for Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. Briske is a four-year player for Tate and also played little league at Ensley. He made the district All-Star team as a senior and carries a 3.5+ GPA.
Pictured are (seated, L-R) Kathy Briske (mom), Andrew Briske, Christopher Briske (brother), Wayne Briske (dad), (standing) Meagan Briske (sister) Dean David Venettozzi, Coach Bobby Reyes and Tate Principal Rick Shackle. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Key Decisions Await Scott on Education
May 16, 2013
The biggest battles on the education front in the 2013 legislative sessions have already been fought and largely decided: Educators will get $480 million in pay raises, though not precisely how Gov. Rick Scott had asked, and the Senate killed a bill allowing parents more of a say in the future of failing schools.
But there were several more high-profile bills that moved through the process, dealing with everything from how the Florida Virtual School is funded to how schools should address “cyberbullying.” Many of those still wait for decisions from Scott on whether to sign or veto them, and some people have taken to lobbying the governor by email on what he should do.
HIGH SCHOOL DEGREES: Another one of the initiatives that lawmakers say is the most wide-ranging has already been put into law: Scott signed the bill (SB 1076) in April. The 144-page bill creates two “designations” for high school degrees, each with different requirements, with one aimed at encouraging students to work toward industry certification.
The measure has been praised by business groups and educators, in part because it would free students who choose one of the designations from being required to pass some courses — such as Algebra II — that are aimed at college-bound students. Business groups also say the bill will more closely tie the education system to employers’ needs.
“Senate Bill 1076 will make sure our students are prepared for college and careers and have the skills to compete for jobs in an ever-competitive global marketplace,” Scott said during a ceremony marking the signing of the bill.
VIRTUAL SCHOOL, TUTORS: A budget conforming bill dealing with education (SB 1514) is coming under fire for major changes to the funding that would flow to outside providers of services. Part of the bill would slice into the money provided to the Florida Virtual School by revising the way the state’s main funding formula applies to the 16-year-old program.
Private providers say the change will do away with an unfair advantage that the virtual school receives on the funding formula. In many cases, that would mean the virtual school might go from getting one-sixth of the cost of educating a student to splitting one-seventh of the cost with the student’s brick-and-mortar school. That will discourage public schools from allowing their students to enroll in the classes.
“Students are already being denied access to critical FLVS courses as a result of this bill,” wrote Taylor Sampson, whose email indicates a link to the online school but doesn’t say how.
Tutoring providers are also complaining about the fact that the bill allows the lapse of a provision of law requiring school districts to use 15 percent of their federal funding on academic help for lower-income children. Media reports have raised questions about some of the providers.
But Todd Walden, a Pasco County resident who has a tutoring company, wrote to Scott that those are exceptions to the rule when it comes to providing “supplemental education services.”
“While there have been scathing stories about certain company’s practices within SES, the majority of the providers are providing effective and quality services,” Walden wrote. “I am asking that you do not sign the Senate bill and preserve tens of thousands of FL jobs [affected] by this bill.”
However, it seems unlikely that simply refusing to sign the bill would reinstate the 15 percent set-aside.
Another new bill dealing with virtual education (HB 7029) aims to encourage the use of massive open online courses, known as MOOCs, in Florida schools. Out-of-state companies would be able to provide the courses under the change, and “blended” courses that include some online instruction and some classroom time would be exempt from class-size requirements.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Some of the most emotionally charged discussions around education this year took place on a bill that ended up passing both chambers unanimously: SB 1108, a measure pushed by Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine. Parents showed up to give often-emotional stories of how their children would be affected.
The measure gives parents more influence on the individual education plans, or IEPs, that are used to guide the education of children with disabilities. For example, parents would have to sign off on plans to send their child to an Exceptional Student Education center, which specializes in educating those with disabilities.
The Foundation for Florida’s Future, an education advocacy group chaired by former Gov. Jeb Bush, hailed the measure.
“This bill will be life changing for Florida families,” said Patricia Levesque, the organization’s executive director, after the Senate vote. ” … These are life-altering decisions, and parents should be fully informed and engaged in the process. The support witnessed on the floor today spoke volumes about the Senate’s commitment to making this a reality for moms and dads.”
Lawmakers also approved a bill (HB 461) aimed at standardizing some procedures for IEPs for students with hearing difficulties.
BULLYING, SAFETY: Lawmakers also unanimously approved a bill (HB 609) that would crackdown on “cyberbullying” in public schools. The bill would expand what school districts are allowed to punish at school and when children are not at school — if the non-school bullying affects education. Supporters say the bill simply catches up to new realities when it comes to education.
But not everyone supports the measure. Daniel Daly Jr., writing to Scott from Santa Rosa County, urged a veto.
“School officials are not law enforcement,” he wrote. “They will become law enforcement of the Internet for school age kids and abuse their power if the[y] see a message that they do not like.”
And after debate about a range of policy solutions, and the approval of funding for a study of security measures in the wake of the massacre in Newtown, Conn., the Legislature passed one measure (SB 284) dealing with emergencies. The measure allows private schools to be notified by first responders about emergencies and makes sure public schools spell out which agency is supposed to contact them.
BIG BILLS: An omnibus education bill (HB 7009) would make a slew of changes across the board, including:
–Adding both new accountability measures and new flexibility for charter schools. High-performing charters would be allowed to boost their enrollment annually, and the Department of Education is charged with proposing a standard contract for charter schools.
–Giving school boards the ability to set up a public “Innovation School of Technology” that could get much of the same flexibility as charter schools get if they use new technology in instruction.
–Barring students from being taught by low-performing teachers in the same subject two years in a row, though parents could allow districts to ignore that rule in the case of extracurricular courses.
Another large bill (HB 1664) makes several changes regarding educators, but the most-watched provision might be one aimed at making sure classroom teachers are only assessed based on the students they teach.
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
More Details Released: Cantonment Man Gets Five Years For Child Porn
May 16, 2013
A former gospel music pianist from Cantonment is headed to federal prison on child pornography charges.
Mack Stewart Varnado Jr., 32, pleaded guilty earlier this year to recipient of child pornography and transportation in child pornography. He was indicted after an investigation revealed that he sent 14 child pornography images to another person, according to court documents.
He was sentenced to five years in federal prison and ordered to report to begin his sentence by July 15. After release, he will be required to register as a sex offender and will be on probation for six years.
On October 13, 2011, a cybertip was reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that sparked the local investigation. The report documented email messages containing child pornography being transmitted from an AOL account in the Northern District of Florida. Specifically, on October 12, 2011, AOL detected an email message sent from a user account traced to Varnado to an Yahoo subscriber.
The message contained several child sexual exploitation images. Detective Chris Wilkinson, of the Pensacola Police Department, was able to trace this email message to Varnado at his residence in Cantonment. A total of 14 illicit images had been sent by Varnado. All of the images depicted minor children between approximately 10-14 years old engaged in various sexual activities.
On or about January 13, 2012, Detective Wilkinson obtained a warrant to search the email account hosted by AOL, located in Dulles, Virginia. On January 18, 2012, AOL responded that Varnado maintained email messages, both sent and received, which had attachments of child pornography.
All this information led to a federal search warrant on Varnado’s residence in Cantonment. The defendant was present during the execution of the search warrant. Multiple pieces of digital media were seized. A forensic examination of Varnado’s digital media revealed images and videos of child pornography, matches for the screen name in the original tip, and matches to those images located in the “sent” mailbox linked to the email account used by Varnado.
In addition, based upon Varnado sending and receiving child pornography from his residence in Cantonment, Senior United States District Judge Roger Vinson ordered that Varnado forfeit his interest in the residence because it was used to facilitate the online crimes against children. This amounted to Varnado forfeiting $74,000 to the United States government.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Marsh said, “Protecting our children from the permanent scars left behind when this kind of exploitation occurs is critically important work. This prison sentence, along with the forfeiture ruling, should send a strong message of deterrence. We have the expertise to responsibly gather the necessary evidence to charge these cases, and the charges when proven beyond a reasonable doubt carry serious penalties under federal law.” She expressed her gratitude to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Pensacola Police Department for their cooperation, dedication, and expertise in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood,
Varnado was a pianist for the nationally known gospel group The Dixie Echoes from 1998 until last year.
Area Businesses Alerted About Bad Checks
May 16, 2013
The Atmore Police Department is warning business owners to be on the lookout for bogus checks.
Officials said Wednesday that the department has received numerous complaints from local business owners that have accepted checks that turned out to be forged, counterfeited or written on closed accounts.
” This has become a more frequent problem in the past few months,” said Investigator Robby Williams. “Business owners and employees should be diligent when dealing with customers paying with checks.”
The Atmore Police Department is offering the following tips to area businesses that accept checks:
- Determine the origin of the check. If it is a check you were not expecting or is from a sender with whom you are unfamiliar, you should be suspicious of its validity.
- At the bottom of a check, you will see three groups of numbers. The first group is the routing number. The second is the account number, and the third is the check number. The bottom line on all checks printed and used in North America is printed using a special font called MICR (short for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition). Look at the check number in the upper right hand corner and see if it matches the last few digits (the third group of numbers) on the MICR line. The MICR line is the long string of numbers that is at the bottom of the check.
- Visit: http://www.fededirectory.frb.org/search.cfm Enter the routing number in the search box and click “Search.” The website will then tell you what financial institution is linked to that routing number, along with the city in which the financial institution is located. If this is not the same as the information printed on the check, it may be a fake check.
- Call the bank that issued the check if you are still unsure about the check’s validity. You can provide them with the routing number and account number, as shown in the MICR line. They can then tell you if it is a legit check.
- Confirm the identity of the check writer. All I.D. can be forged. The most reliable form of I.D. is that which contains a photo and a physical description. Take the I.D. in hand and write the I.D. number, birth date, address and other descriptive data on the front of the check. If possible, make a photo copy of the I.D. Ask questions. If the I.D. does not belong to the person writing the check, they may be thrown off guard. Make sure the person presenting the check is the same person on the I.D. Several of the cases being currently investigated by Atmore Police involve the offender using a fake I.D.
- The signature should be legible and signed in the presence of the individual accepting the check. Do NOT accept previously signed checks. For a company check, it is vital that the signature is legible. If not, print the individual’s name on the front of the check. The complete address should be imprinted on the check.
- Require a street address, in addition to a P.O. Box number. Obtain a phone number as well.
Pictured: A portion of downtown Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.