Former Trooper, Police Investigator Convicted Of Theft
November 3, 2012
A former Alabama State Trooper and Atmore Police Department investigator from Walnut Hill has been convicted of using a state credit card to buy over $2,200 worth of gas for his personal use.
Jonathan Dees, 48, pleaded guilty in Baldwin County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to 60 months in jail, That sentence was suspended and he was ordered to serve a term of six months supervised probation, to pay court costs, and a fine of $100 to the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Fund.
Dees provided a current address in the 7000 block of Highway 97 in Walnut Hill at the time of his arrest on February 16, 2012, according to Baldwin County Jail records.
Dees had been assigned to the Mobile office of the Department of Public Safety and was later hired as a police investigator by the City of Atmore. He resigned his position with the Atmore Police Department on the day of his arrest.
The state presented Dees’ confession; video evidence showing him purchasing the gasoline; and documentation that, on his days off, he used his trooper vehicle and bought gas for his personal use with the state credit card. Prior to pleading guilty, Dees repaid $2,204.09 for purchases between the approximate dates of July 2009 and January 2011.
“This case is a sad example of someone who has betrayed not only the trust of taxpayers and the law that he was sworn to uphold, but also his fellow law enforcement officers who have earned our trust and respect,” said Alabama Attorney General Strange. “Our message to all is that public corruption must be fought so that Alabama citizens may have confidence on those who serve the public.”
Playoff Bound: Northview Beats Baker For District Championship
November 3, 2012
For the second year running, the Northview Chiefs are the District 1-1A champions. The Chiefs have dominated the district this year, outscoring three district opponents by a combined 144-20.
Friday night, the Chiefs chomped the Baker Gators 40-6 to seal the district title.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Northview started things off in Baker with a touchdown on the opening drive of the game — a 65-yarder from quarterback Kevin Vaughan to La’Mikal Kyles. But the flags were flying, and the touchdown was called back on a holding call.
Baker was about to have their one moment of glory, but after that there was going to be no holding back a Chiefs team that has dominated district play this year.
On a bad Northview snap, the Gators recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. A missed kick, and Baker was up 6-0. And it was downhill from there for the Gators.
Northview senior Neiko Robinson was in for a 70 yard touchdown 32 seconds later With a good kick from Vaughan, Northview took a 7-6 lead. Vaughan then connected with Robinson for another touchdown with 11:09 to go in the half.
In the second half, Kyles had touchdowns of 12 and 88 yards.
Other Northview scores included a 3-yard quarterback keeper from Kevin Vaughan with 3:13 to to in the game and a 30-yard Neino Robinson interception return with 2:08 on the clock.
With the win, the Chiefs (7-2, 3-0) will open the state playoff series at home in the regional semifinals on Friday, November 16. Next week, the Chiefs will be at home for Senior Night against West Florida High School.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs beat Baker Friday night to for the district championship. Photos by Chris Edwards for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Beats Washington (With Football, Senior Night Photos)
November 3, 2012
The Tate Aggies went into Friday night’s Senior Night game with one thing on their minds — that so-far elusive first win of the 2012 season. And that’s just how the Aggies ended Senior Night, 35-20 over Washington.
Washington was on the board at 3-0 first with a field goal with 5:23 to go in the first quarter. The Aggies answered at 4:34 in the first with an eight-yard run from Lorenzo Long. After a good kick from Todd Ryals, the Aggies were up 7-3.
The Aggies would strike again in the first quarter, when Rashaun Johnson returned an interception 29 yards and Ryals put the pigskin through the uprights on the point after. Headed into the second, Tate was up 14-3.
In the second, Tate scored again, this time on a 25-yard pass from Devekyo Lewis to Bryan Davis, 21-3.
With 3:03 in the third, the Wildscats scored on a 26-yard pass. Tate’s Johnson returned the kickoff 88 yards for another Tate TD, and the Aggies were still on top 28-10. The Aggies, looking for that big first win of the season, scored again in the third on a 78-yard run from Long, 35-10.
Washington scored times three in the fourth quarter with a safety, a five-yard touchdown and a two-yard touchdown pass. But it wasn’t enough at Tate celebrated a 35-20 win.
With the win, the Aggies finished their 2012 season — the first under head coach Brad Naggatz — at 1-8. It was the first win for Tate since 2010 when the Aggies went 3-7.
Pictured top: The Tate Aggies beat the Washington Wildcats Friday night for the Aggies first win of the season. Pictured inset. Friday night was Senior Night for the Aggies. Pictured below: The Tate varsity cheerleaders. Photos by Kristi Smith and Hope Bonucchi for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three Arrested On Prostitution Charges
November 3, 2012
Three Escambia County women were arrested for prostitution Friday after an undercover sting by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Virginia Elaine Miller, 44, and Jamie Louise Nix, 32, were each charged with soliciting for prostitution and booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $1,000. Jasmine Rae Leos, 20, was jailed for soliciting for prostitution and trespassing. Her bond was set at $2,000.
All three women approached undercover deputies on different occasions and solicited them for money in exchange for sex, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Freeport Downs Jay
November 3, 2012
Freeport defeated the Jay Royals 46-7 Friday night in Freeport. Jay will end their season next Friday night, November 9 at home against R.F. Monroe. at 7 p.m.
Photos by Michele Gibbs for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Arrested For Possessing Child Porn
November 3, 2012
An Escambia County man has been arrested on multiple felony child pornography charges after police said a month-long investigation determined he was downloading child porn off the internet.
William Blake Edgar, 24, was charged with 19 counts of possession of child pornography. Additional charges are anticipated, according to Pensacola Police Department Detective Jeff Brown.
Edgar, who is unemployed, was arrested during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. The warrant was served by members of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes personnel from the Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security.
Brown said officers seized a computer and several other electronic devices that contained several thousand child notable photographs; additional forensic investigations will be done on the devices.
The male and female children shown in the photographs are believed to be up to 13 years old. Some of the pictures and movies showed children being sexually abused, police said.
Brown said investigators also are trying to determine if Edgar had personal contact with children.
BREAKING NEWS: Northview Chiefs Win District Championship
November 2, 2012
The Northview Chiefs won the District 1-1A championship Friday night with a 40-6 win over the Baker Gators.
Complete details on this game and all the Friday night action coming up Saturday morning on NorthEscambia.com.
The Chiefs will open their trip to the state championship at home on Friday, November 16.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs celebrate their district championship win over Baker tonight in Baker. Photo courtesy Carrie Bryan for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Charges Dropped In Murder Of Domino’s Pizza Driver
November 2, 2012
Charges have been dropped against the man accused of killing a West Florida graduate working as a pizza delivery driver last year.
The State Attorney’s Office said Thursday second degree murder charges were dismissed against Gary Demeatric Harrison. Harrison was accused of attacking Tyler John Hinkle, a 2010 West Florida High School graduate, outside the Domino’s Pizza at 27 North Navy Boulevard on September 24, 2011.
“There is insufficient evidence available at this time to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. Two witnesses provided information to law enforcement during the investigation of this case,” the State Attorney’s Office said in a released statement. “One of these witnesses has now recanted his statement and the other has refused to cooperate and is unwilling to testify at trial. In addition, the trial court has excluded these witnesses from being used at trial.”
Court documents indicate that there was no physical evidence to link Harrison to the murder.
Harrison’s trial had been scheduled to begin Monday.
In His Own Words: The Ride Of A Lifetime With The Blue Angels
November 2, 2012
This morning, NorthEscambia.com takes you along for a flight with the Blue Angels with Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh, in his own words:
The interesting aspects of the experience were numerous, but the standout in my mind is just the professionalism of the entire team, from the support staff, to the briefing personnel, to the PAO, to the ground crew, to the pilots.
For our rides, the #7 pilot, who also doubles as the team’s narrator, was tapped for the job. Lt. Mark Tedrow, a 2004 Naval Academy graduate, was extremely gracious and accommodating. In addition to his gregarious demeanor, this pilot was physically impressive.
He was easily 6’3”, and when I shook his hand before and after the flight, I felt like I was shaking hands with a bronze statue—this guy was a rock—kind of what one would expect as a Naval aviator from the movies. I also learned that none of the pilots wear “G Suits” during their flights—they have to control the G-forces’ effects on their bodies via a muscle flexing and breathing regimen called the HICK maneuver.
As we taxied down the runway we talked a bit, and he told me he was a football player, wide receiver. “On a team that didn’t like to pass the ball,” he quipped. An interesting thing I learned from Lt. Tedrow was that as a part of the rotation process coming on to the Blue Angels, many of the pilots spend their first year serving as narrator, before they rotate up to the actual demonstration team.
While serving as narrator, these pilots still train and fly, and these are the pilots tapped for giving VIP rides. Another thing I learned was just how lucky I was to get a ride; the ground-crew member who assisted with buckling me into the 14 point restraint system in the cockpit told me it took him eight years to earn his first backseat ride — eight years serving with the Blue Angels before he got a ride! That puts it into perspective for me — I was SO LUCKY to get this chance!
BLAST OFF
My ride lasted 30 minutes, and started with a bang as Lt. Tedrow began our flight by executing a high-speed, high performance takeoff that pulled six G’s of force. After we flew down the runway at 300 Knots, Lt. Tedrow put the nose of the jet straight up, vertical, and hit the afterburners. The jolt of the sudden change in direction pushed my whole body forward as we quickly ascended into the sky.
Once we hit our cruising altitude of 16,000 feet, we flew about 30 miles off the coast, descended toward the ocean, and performed a series of low and high speed maneuvers that resulted in various levels of G-forces on our bodies — from three to five G’s sustained — during some of the turns. The highlight for me, aside from the ridiculously insane takeoff, was when Lt. Tedrow lit the afterburners and we broke the sound barrier and went supersonic. I have never felt anything like that in my life; it was incredible!
And how many civilians will ever get the chance to break the sound barrier? Flying upside down was also an amazing sensation — and the views out of the canopy when one is flying upside down simply defy description. Awesome.
Aside from the majestic beauty of the day which allowed for views of over 20 miles up and down the coast, the final highlight was coming in to NAS Pensacola for a landing amidst the beauty of our local beaches and emerald water. After the flight, the Blue Angels presented me a signed commemorative photograph, as well as the complete cockpit video of the entire flight (Something my wife and kids now affectionately refer to, as their “endless source of entertainment” due to my facial expressions up there during the flight.) And to answer the one lingering question everyone has asked — NO, I did not black out during the flight — even while pulling G’s. I did grunt and strain but never blacked out!
The 30 or so minutes I spent up there that morning are 30 minutes I will remember as long as I live. I still can’t quite believe I was so fortunate to be selected for this honor, so much so that a part of me is still up there in the sky — on cloud nine!
Pictured top: Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh flies with the Blue Angels. Pictured insets: Bergosh with the Blue Angels. Pictured below: Bergosh’s autographed ride photos. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
He’s Back: County Hires George Touart As Interim County Administrator
November 2, 2012
Former county administrator George Touart is back — the Escambia County Commission voted Thursday night to hire Touart as interim county administrator
“This would be nothing less than temporary until we could find a qualified, permanent, top shelf, class act replacement,” Commissioner Gene Valentino said as he made a motion to bring Touart in to to temporarily fill the position vacated when the commission voted to fire Randy Oliver last month.
District 5 Commissioner Kevin White, who did not seek re-election and will be off the board in about two weeks, seconded the motion for discussion purposes. But White said he wanted the job.
“I was going to throw my name in the hat tonight,” White said, eliciting laughter from some of his fellow commissioners. “Seriously, I brought my resume, he said.”
Touart’s return to Escambia County government will be effective December 1 and he will remain until the board hires a permanent county administrator, a process estimated to take about six to 12 months. His employment will be at will, meaning that he can be terminated at any time. A regional search for a permanent administrator will begin in January.
“It’s a patch on the tire; it should not be construed as part of some longer term scheme,” Valentino said.
“It still have a problem with us making a decision on this when in two and a half weeks you are going to have two new board members in here,” White said.
Grover Robinson said he wants to have a new county administrator in place by March when work begins on next year’s budget.
The move to hire Touart at a $130,000 annual salary passed in a 3-2 vote Thursday night, with Commissioners Grover Robinson IV and Marie Young voting against. Touart will also receive a $500 monthly car allowance and “other benefits commensurate with county employment.”
“At least somebody could have made a motion for me,” White said.
Touart served as county administrator for five years, resigning amid ethics questions in 2007. All formal ethics complaints against him were dismissed.