An Escambia County sex offender has been sentenced to federal prison.
Jordan T. Quinones, 30, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for one count of possession of obscene materials involving minors.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted routine checks on Quinones as a registered sex offender in late 2025. When suspicious materials were associated with Quinones, law enforcement followed up with an interview of Quinones, which led to obtaining a search warrant of his cellphone. Law enforcement located images that depicted obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. Quinones was maintaining them in an online Google Photos account. The images were cartoon or computer generated files, which depicted sexual abuse, sadomasochistic abuse, and bestiality involving minors.
Quinones was sentenced to a term of three years of supervised release after his imprisonment.
The case was jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.
Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- Interstate 10 (I-10) Resurfacing from east of U.S. 29 to east of Davis Highway (State Road (S.R.) 291) – Drivers on I-10 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between mile markers 11 and 14, Sunday, Aug. 9 through Thursday, Aug. 13, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for paving operations and roadway construction.
- S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) from east of Bauer Road (County Road (C.R.) 293) to Manchester Street – The week of Sunday, Aug. 9, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 292 from east of Bauer Road (C.R. 293) to Manchester Street, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for construction activities. Median devices are in place near Patton Drive and Mills Avenue. Drivers are reminded that the speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph through the work zone.
- U.S. 90A (West Nine Mile Road) Resurfacing, from Perdido River Bridge to S.R. 99 (Beulah Road) - The week of Sunday, Aug. 9, drivers on U.S. 90A will encounter inside lane closures, between Western Way Drive and Tower Ridge Road, for construction activities.
- Business U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the Interstate 110 (I-110) ramp – The week of Sunday, Aug. 9, drivers may encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and North Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction) as crews perform construction activities on the north side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through late 2026.
- Temporary side street closures north of Garden Street for stormwater drainage system reconstruction. This week, drivers may encounter a closure with detour at D Street. Signage will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
- On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between A Street and L Street.
- I-110 Resurfacing from I-10 to U.S. 98 – Drivers on I-110 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between I-10 and U.S. 98, Sunday, Aug. 9 through Thursday, Aug. 13, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for paving operations and roadway construction.
- I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
- Intermittent lane closures on I-10 westbound near the Nine Mile Road interchange, Sunday, Aug. 9 through Thursday, Aug. 13, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, Aug. 9 through Saturday, Aug. 15, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
- Temporary reconfiguration of the I-10 westbound on-ramp, which will remain in place through mid-2026.
- I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – The week of Monday, Aug. 10, I-10 eastbound travel lanes will be shifted to the north, near the U.S. 29 (Exit 10) interchange. This temporary traffic configuration is anticipated to remain in place through late 2026. Drivers are reminded of the following ongoing traffic impacts:
- West Hope Drive at North Palafox Street remains closed temporarily for drainage construction. Traffic on North Palafox Street is being detoured via Tower Drive and Burgess Road. Signage is in place to direct drivers through the detour.
- I-10 is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction between U.S. 29 and I-110.
- I-10 travel lanes are shifted away from the median area of the roadway, near the U.S. 29 interchange.
- The U.S. 29 southbound access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been reduced.
- The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
Additionally, intermittent lane closures may occur on I-10, between mile markers 8 and 11, Sundays through Thursdays, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for construction activities.
- S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway) Resurfacing from U.S. 29 to the Alabama State Line – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Intermittent lane and shoulder closures are to be expected throughout the project limits on Monday, Aug. 10 through Friday, Aug 14, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Lane closures are to be expected at S.R. 95 and S.R. 97 on Monday, Aug. 10 through Friday, Aug 14, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Sunday, Aug. 9, through Saturday, Aug. 15, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
- U.S. 90 Resurfacing, from Escambia River Bridge to east of Woodbine Road (C.R. 197A) – Drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on U.S. 90, from Escambia River Bridge to Woodbine Road, Sunday, Aug. 9 through Thursday, Aug. 13, between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for paving operations. Additionally, the speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph through the work zone.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
A 74-year-old Pensacola man sustained minor injuries after failing to stop at a railroad crossing and colliding with an oncoming train in Escambia County on Sunday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The incident occurred as the driver of a 2018 Honda CR-V was traveling westbound on Airport Boulevard, approaching the railroad crossing at Memory Lane.
According to state troopers, the railroad crossing arms were fully lowered and the crossing’s red lights were actively flashing. The approaching southbound train was also sounding its horn as it neared the intersection.
Troopers report that the driver failed to stop, traveling beneath the crossing arm and onto the tracks. The right side of the Honda CR-V then struck the passing train.
The driver was cited for careless driving.
Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
Florida gas prices are up 4 cents after rising and then falling last week. The state average rose abruptly by 14 cents early in the week, then declined by 10 cents by the weekend.
Sunday’s state average of $3.88 per gallon was 4 cents more than last week, 7 cents more than a month ago, and 81 cents more than last year.
The average on Sunday in Escambia County was $3.63, down from $3.78 one week ago but up from $3.28 a month ago.
The low price Sunday night in North Escambia was $3.45 at stations on Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment. In Pensacola, drivers could find $3.36 per gallon at the warehouse clubs and $3.39 at several Nine Mile Road stations.
File photo.
Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos dropped the series finale to the Montgomery Biscuits by a final score of 19-9 on Sunday evening.
After three straight wins, the visiting Biscuits (55-53, 20-19) got one back behind a 19-hit effort, the highest number of hits Pensacola has allowed this year, and a poor defensive showing from the home side. Hand-in-hand, 19 runs marks the highest amount of runs relented this season.
The Blue Wahoos (59-49, 23-16) still sit atop the Southern League second half standings and maintain the 7-5 edge in second half play against Montgomery. The two clubs will meet once more this season, this time in Montgomery from August 25-30.
Pensacola got the early edge with an Ian Lewis Jr. sacrifice fly in the first, but things turned south in the third inning. Montgomery’s Brock Jones scored on a throwing error, and Mac Horvath came home on a Caden Bodine RBI single to take the lead. The Biscuits extended the lead with an RBI double from Kenny Piper, 3-1.
Three more runs came for the visiting side in the fourth at the expense of starter Joey Volini (L, 0-2), who exited immediately afterward with eight hits relented while striking out five. Lewis chipped into the deficit once again with a sac fly to score Cristian Hernandez in the fifth, bringing the Biscuits’ lead down to 6-2.
Six hits allowed and three costly wild pitches from the reliever duo of Livan Reinoso and Christian Macleod saw seven runs come across for the Biscuits in the seventh. Comeback hopes essentially vanished as Montgomery added another pair of runs in the next frame credited to a two-run double from Bodine.
A deep RBI double into center field from Ethan O’Donnell in the bottom of the eighth punched in another run for Pensacola before the Blue Wahoos offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the ninth. Beshears, Dylan Jasso, and Nestor Rios drove in two runs a piece in a valiant effort to cut into the lead, yet the Blue Wahoos eventually fell 19-9.
Pensacola scored their nine runs on 10 hits and drew seven walks. Seven different Blue Wahoos managed a knock, with Hernandez, Jasso, and Rios finishing with two hits each. Rios’ initial hit in the second inning was his first hit at the Double-A level. While Volini was saddled with the loss, his Montgomery counterpart Santiago Suarez (W, 7-3) took the win after five innings of work.
The Blue Wahoos take Monday off before traveling west for a series with the Biloxi Shuckers, starting on Tuesday, August 11.
written by Maddy Branning
A Century man was arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office recently for an alleged domestic violence incident that occurred in April.
Daryl Lamar Brown, 58, faces a felony charge of aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability.
According to the arrest report, the incident began on April 30, while Brown and a woman with whom he lived were returning from the casino in Atmore.. An argument escalated near the intersection of Champion Road and Highway 31 north of Flomaton, where Brown allegedly struck the woman multiple times in the face as he continued driving into Escambia County, Florida.
Law enforcement reported that when the vehicle stopped at a four-way stop at West Highway 4 and Highway 99 in Bratt, the woman attempted to escape but fell to the ground because her eyes were swollen shut. Brown reportedly forced her back into the vehicle and drove to his residence on West Highway 4 in Century.
Once at the home, the victim managed to drive the vehicle to a relative’s house in Jay where she called for an ambulance. Deputies later met the woman at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, noting she had suffered severe facial bruising, swollen eyes, and loose teeth.
Brown remained in the Escambia County Jail on Sunday morning.
Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
Members of the Northview High School Class of 2027 celebrated “Senior Sunrise” on Saturday morning to mark the beginning of the upcoming school year. School starts on Wednesday, August 12. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
School starts Wednesday in Escambia County, and there’s time to take advantage of Florida’s back to school sales tax holiday.
Through August 20, consumers in Florida can purchase qualifying back to school supplies exempt from tax.
Sales Tax Holiday Included Items
During the Florida Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, which takes place annually from July 20 through August 20, the following items are exempt from Florida sales tax if they meet the specified price limits and other conditions:
Clothing, footwear, and accessories having a sales price of $100 or less per item, including:
- Shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, shorts, and other apparel
- Shoes, boots, sandals, and other footwear
- Accessories such as belts, hats, gloves, and scarves
Wallets and bags* having a sales price of $100 or less per item, including:
- Backpacks
- Diaper bags
- Fanny packs
- Handbags
*Briefcases, suitcases, and other garment bags are excluded.
School supplies having a sales price of $50 or less per item, including:
- Binders
- Cellophane tape
- Compasses
- Composition books
- Computer disks
- Construction paper
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Folders
- Glue or paste
- Legal pads
- Lunch boxes
- Markers
- Notebooks
- Notebook filler paper
- Pencils
- Pens
- Poster board
- Poster paper
- Protractors
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Staplers and staples used to secure paper products
Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles having a sales price of $30 or less:
- Flashcards or other learning cards
- Interactive or electronic books and toys intended to teach reading or math skills
- Matching or other memory games
- Puzzle books and search-and-find books
- Stacking or nesting blocks or sets
Personal computers or personal computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use having a sales price of $1,500 or less
- Personal computers* include:
- Calculators
- Desktops
- Electronic book readers
- Handhelds
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Tower computers
*The term does not include cellular telephones, video game consoles, digital media receivers, or devices that are not primarily designed to process data.
Personal computer-related accessories*+ include:
- Keyboards
- Mice
- Modems
- Monitors
- Nonrecreational software
- Other peripheral devices
- Personal digital assistants
- Routers
*The listed accessories are tax-exempt regardless of whether they are used in association with a personal computer base unit.
+ The term does not include furniture or systems, devices, software, monitors with a television tuner, or peripherals that are designed or intended primarily for recreational use.
The sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.
Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
An Escambia County rapper has been convicted on a federal drug trafficking related crime.
Jovon “Playa Pat” Booker, 33, of Pensacola, Florida, was convicted by a jury in federal court on one count of discharging a handgun in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and a separate count of possessing firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Prior to the jury being selected in Pensacola, Booker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and five counts of money laundering through high end jewelry purchase.
At trial, the jury received evidence that Booker ran a multi-million dollar interstate drug trafficking network wherein he transported hundreds of kilograms of highly potent marijuana from the Seattle area into Pensacola between 2020 – 2025. Booker used the proceeds of his crimes to purchase vehicles, such as a Lamborghini Urus, as well as diamond encrusted jewelry and Cartier and Patek Philippe watches. The jury heard evidence that Booker did not report a single dollar of legitimate income to the government during this timeframe. During the course of his drug trafficking conspiracy, on May 12, 2024, at the Paparazzi Bistro & Lounge in Pensacola, Booker shot one of his own co-conspirators at point-blank range in an attempt to murder him over a drug debt owed to Booker. At a later date, in July 2025, multiple law enforcement agencies executed a federal search warrant at Booker’s residence and located a loaded assault rifle he possessed to protect all the controlled substances in the house. The jury received all of this evidence and found Booker guilty as charged.
Booker is scheduled for sentencing before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola in early November.
Booker faces and mandatory minimum 20 years up to life imprisonment on the charges. In addition, law enforcement seized over $500,000 of jewelry, vehicles, firearms, and United States currency from Booker that will all be forfeited to the government.
Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
A Leon County judge this week determined the summary of property tax cut ballot measure passed by the Legislature is filled with political rhetoric and misleading.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ response was essentially to say ‘fine, we won’t appeal’ and Attorney General James Uthmeier, who he appointed to the job, is already on the rewrite.
In a technical win for a trio of groups that challenged Amendment 3 on the November ballot, Leon Circuit Court David Frank on Monday ordered the title and ballot summary to be redrafted.
“Voters are entitled to a fair, clear, accurate and non-misleading ballot statement to assist them in making their critical determination,” Frank wrote in his 18-page ruling. “The present ballot language would deprive the voters of the opportunity to make a meaningful decision.”
Amendment 3 calls for the non-school homestead exemption to be increased from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and raises it to $250,000 in 2028. Another provision reduces the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10 percent to 5 percent.
In his ruling, Frank detailed specific changes that should be made to the ballot summary.
For example, after stating “this amendment benefits Florida taxpayers by:” the ballot summary uses the phrases “exempting homestead properties from taxation,” “ensuring funding for core services,” “protecting small businesses” and “ensuring fairness for Florida residents.”
Those opposed to the measure argued that if approved by 60 percent of voters in November cities and counties could lose up to $12 billion annually. They also said tax burdens will be shifted to renters and businesses, which isn’t reflected in the ballot language that is under the amendment’s title of “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes.”
DeSantis said Thursday that Uthmeier, his former chief of staff, was already working on the new language.
“I’ve actually seen some of the draft. It’s a great draft. It is going to be very good. (It will) be very clear for voters what’s on there,” DeSantis said during an education event in Lehigh Acres.
DeSantis added that he and Uthmeier didn’t “necessarily agree” with the ruling, but that the revision will be more than acceptable.
“It’s fine. It’s going to be a very good summary, very straightforward,” DeSantis continued. “People are going to know they’re going to get tax relief. You’re going to get an increased homestead exemption if you’re for it. So that’s going to happen.”
Florida’s law banning children from drag shows was deemed constitutional by a federal appeals court, overruling an earlier decision that found it violated the First Amendment.
A ruling was a victory for Gov. DeSantis, who pushed for the measure in 2023, passing through the Republican-controlled Legislature.
“This shouldn’t even be controversial, yet our law protecting kids required us to fend off lawsuits and win a case before a divided appellate court,” DeSantis posted on X.
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals initially knocked the law down, but DeSantis appealed, asking for the full court to review the decision.
In an 8-5 ruling, the court found Hamburger Mary’s, an Orlando-area restaurant that frequently features drag performances and brought the lawsuit, “failed to establish a substantial likelihood of success on the merits.”
The law defines “adult live performance” as a live show that “depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or specific sexual activities,” as defined under state law, as well as “lewd conduct” or the “lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.”
Hamburger Mary’s argued the law was too broad and infringed on its First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, but the majority of the court disagreed.
“The Supreme Court of Florida’s definition of ‘lewd’ eliminates any overbreadth, and the use of the phrase ‘age of the child present’ does not render the Act unconstitutionally vague. Accordingly, we vacate the district court’s preliminary injunction in its entirety,” wrote Judge Andrew Brasher.
Brasher was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020.
In response to the ruling, Qommittee, a national group formed in 2024 to support drag performers facing censorship and threats, updated its guide for Florida.
“Florida’s anti-drag law is in effect but drag is NOT banned in Florida. Even if your show is legal (and most are), you could be wrongfully targeted,” the guide states. “Don’t stop performing, but protect yourself.”
THE COST OF COLLEGE SPORTS
The state university system’s Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics agreed Tuesday that Congress must pass an anti-trust exemption for the NCAA to establish a salary cap, along with transfer and eligibility regulations on student athletic programs.
Barring that, the Florida Legislature needs to get involved, with members of the task force backing seven of 19 proposals intended to address the evolving world of college athletics.
Measures that found support Tuesday included the need to expand state law that provides legal protections for universities regarding student-athlete name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, regulations on agents, financial literacy training and advisors for student-athletes, and for the state to seek multi-state agreements on student pay, eligibility, and caps on student-athlete agent compensation.
“What we’re seeing in intercollegiate athletics today is not really a free market,” said state university system Board of Trustees Chairman Alan Levine. “A free market is where you have a buyer and a seller and the government is not setting prices. But you got states like Louisiana that are passing taxes and using public dollars to basically subsidize their athletic programs, and you have other states, like Florida, that are loathe to do that.”
Among the proposals not put up for a recommendation on Tuesday were measures to allow schools to increase fees on tickets, concessions, and sports betting, along with apparel and other branding deals.
“My goal would be not to raise taxes in any form to pay for college athletics,” said Task Force Chairman Ken Jones during the meeting at the University of Central Florida.
The state was ordered to rewrite the title and summary of a property tax cut ballot measure championed by DeSantis and passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature because they were misleading and filled with political rhetoric, a Leon County judge ruled.
“This amendment, frankly, was not ready for prime time. I think that’s what the court found. I think that’s what, as voters read more and more about what this amendment does, that’s what they are going to find.” — former state Senator Jeff Brandes, a plaintiff in the lawsuit against Amendment 3.
written by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News
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