Escambia Man Gets 50 Years For Killing His Wife
February 8, 2013
A 51-year old Escambia County man that shot and killed his wife in October 2011 has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.
James Scott Thompson was convicted of second degree murder in December, with Judge Michael Allen handing down the half century sentence Thursday. He will be required to serve at least 25 years before being eligible for release.
Thompson shot his wife, 46-year old Bobbi Thompson, in the face during a drunken rage at their home in the 4900 block of LaVentana Circle. Deputies found Thompson leaning over his wife’s body when they arrived on scene.
National Junior Honor Society At Ernest Ward Middle Inducts New Members
February 8, 2013
Just over two dozen students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society Thursday night at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The NJHS is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding middle school students. More than just an honor roll, NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character.
Students must have and maintain a 3.5 GPA for honor society membership.
New National Junior Honor Society members at Ernest Ward are: Elisabeth Amerson, Anna Belle Barberree, Alayna Brown, Dawson Brown, Korbin Bryan, Savanna Calhoun, Breanna Deloach, Jason Fischer, De’Asia Fountain, Kayla Galvan, Bailee Hinote, Madalyn Lathan, Mallory Lathan, Triston Long, Ean Lundy, Robin Nahkala, Hannah Nelson, Celeste North, Sarah Perritt, Olivia Reber, Trevor Singleton, Sabra Stewart, Destiny Watson, Jacob Weaver, Jacob White, and Tara Windham.
Ernest Ward NJHS officers are: Kayleigh Linam, president; Alyssa Borelli, vice president; Hunter Cofield, secretary; Peighton Dortch, treasurer; Mitchell Singleton, reporter; Ian Schneider, parliamentarian; and Autumn Albritton, historian.
Pictured: Just over two dozen students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society Thursday night at Ernest Ward Middle School. Photos by Sara Calhoun for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Gets 11 Years For Shooting
February 8, 2013
An Escambia County man was sentenced to almost 11 years in prison Thursday for a 2010 robbery gone wrong that ended with a murder.
Jarvis Lamar Jessie, 27, was sentenced to 10.8 years in prison for the shooting death of Donald Diego Turner, who was shot outside of his home in the 1600 block of Augusta Avenue on March 21, 2010.
Jessie pleaded no contest to manslaughter. He received the reduced sentence for testifying against co-defendant Charmdar Turner. Turner, who was convicted of second degree murder, will be sentenced next month.
Motorcyclist Injured In Hwy 29 Hit And Run Crash
February 7, 2013
One person was injured in a hit and run crash Thursday afternoon involving a motorcycle.
The accident happened about 4:10 on Highway 29 southbound at Morris Avenue in Cantonment. The motorcycle driver was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Witnesses told authorities that an older model blue station wagon with wood grain panels was involved in the crash but fled the scene. The station wagon reportedly rear-ended the motorcycle, pushing it into a pickup.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Pictured top and inset: A motorcycle driver was injured in a hit and run crash Thursday afternoon on Highway 29 at Morris Avenue in Cantonment. Pictured below: Portions of the grill from a station wagon involved in a hit and run crash Thursday afternoon in Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
One Injured In Highway 29 Crash
February 7, 2013
One person was injured in a single vehicle accident about 8:30 Thursday morning on Highway 29 near Barrineau Park Road. The driver of an Isuzu SUV lost control and ran off the roadway into a wooded area. The adult male was transported to a Pensacola hospital with non-life threatening injuries. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Cantonment House Fire Ruled Arson
February 7, 2013
The Florida State Fire Marshal says arson was the cause of a morning fire that heavily damaged a Cantonment home during a downpour.
A passerby saw flames on the roof and called 911 to report the fire in the 900 block of Muscogee Road, just east of Nowak Road, about 9:00 Thursday morning. The wood frame home was involved in fire when the first firefighters arrived on scene shortly after the fire was reported by a passerby. The home suffered fire, smoke and water damage throughout.
The homeowner told investigators that the home was vacant, but he was letting a vagrant stay there. That vagrant allegedly left the home unlocked, and someone else apparently entered the home and intentionally started the fire. The home suffered about $35,000 worth of damage.
There were no injuries reported.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Cantonment, Molino, McDavid, Beulah and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded the blaze, along with Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured: Fire damaged this home on Muscogee Road in Cantonment Thursday morning as seen in these photos taken before the first fire engine arrived on scene. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
From Downpours To Rainbows
February 7, 2013
Morning downpours and clouds gave way to a rainbow in Atmore Thursday morning, as seen over Lindberg Avenue and South Main Street. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ingram Seeks To Widen Ban On Spice, Synthetic Drugs
February 7, 2013
Wednesday, Rep. Clay Ingram filed a new bill that would widen the ban on synthetic drugs — commonly called “spice,” “K2” or “bath salts.” Marketed as legal alternatives to illicit drugs like cocaine and marijuana, these toxic compounds can cause extreme side effects including paranoia, hallucinations, seizures and psychotic episodes.
“Florida is facing a growing epidemic with these types of synthetic substances,” said Rep. Ingram, whose district includes North Escambia. “They’re marketed under harmless-sounding names designed to intentionally target children, but these are incredibly dangerous drugs that jeopardize people’s lives.”
Prior legislation, passed in 2011, banned certain types of synthetic drugs in Florida, but chemists have begun developing new compounds not covered by existing law. In response, Attorney General Pam Bondi signed an emergency rule in December that temporarily made a new set of 22 synthetic drugs illegal. In conjunction with a Senate Bill filed last month by Sen. Rob Bradley (R-Orange Park), HB 619 will make that ban permanent, as well as make possession of the newly-banned substances punishable by up to a year in jail. Individuals who sell or manufacture the drugs may be charged with a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in jail.
“Chemists are creating new compounds to try and skirt the law,” Ingram continued. “Attorney General Bondi took an important step in issuing an emergency rule, and I look forward to working with Sen. Bradley to provide the necessary legislative support to make that rule permanent and keep our citizens, and especially our children, safe from these toxic drugs.”
Cantonment Man Convicted Of Opening Fire Outside Nightclub
February 7, 2013
A 21-year old Cantonment man has been sentenced to time in the county jail for opening fire with a rifle outside of a Pensacola nightclub.
Davaress Lee Dixon of Pace Parkway was sentenced to 10 months by Judge J. Scott Duncan on a felony charge of discharging a firearm in public.
The incident happened at the now closed Live Nightclub on Pensacola Boulevard at Nine Mile Road, next to the Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, on July 5, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest report.
Dixon fired six shots into the air after a 21-year old male was allegedly attacked in the parking lot by four other males.
Texting And Driving: Hard To Believe So Many Have Had To Die
February 7, 2013
Escambia and Santa Rosa’s state senator is speaking out in support of a texting and driving ban as the Senate works on such a bill.
Sen. Greg Evers said lawmakers must change with the times, as they had to do when requiring the use of seat belts. “I just find it hard to believe that so many folks have had to die,” Evers said. “I, too, was one that would not support the seat belt. But by education – my son, when he crawls in a vehicle, that’s the first thing he does.”
A bill that would ban texting while driving was approved in its first Senate committee Wednesday, but only after lawmakers added some exceptions.
The Senate Transportation Committee amended the bill (SB 52) by Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, to allow texting while a driver is stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic.
This is the fourth year Detert has sponsored a texting ban. She said it’s embarrassing that Florida is one of just a few states with no limits on texting while driving.
Steve Augello traveled from Spring Hill to tell lawmakers about his 17-year-old daughter, Alessandra, who was killed in 2008 when a driver crossed the center line while texting and caused a head-on crash.
“It kills. I’m living proof,” he said. “I have a life sentence. I have to live the rest of my life without my daughter because of someone who was texting and driving. We’ve got to get this law passed.”
Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, wanted to know why the bill didn’t make texting a primary offense instead of a secondary one. “So you would consider it careless?” he asked.
“Beyond careless. I would consider it reckless,” Detert replied. “In the four years we have been doing this bill, we have found that it makes it more passable to make it a secondary offense.”
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.