Escambia Sheriff Candidate John Powell Arrested On Campaign Violation Charge
July 31, 2012
ARCHIVED STORY — July 31, 2012
John Russell Powell, candidate for Escambia County Sheriff, was arrested Monday night and booked into the county jail on a charge related to an elections law violation.
Powell, according to the Sheriff’s Office, was booked on a direct file capias issued by the State Attorney’s Office following grand jury proceedings that lasted most of the day Monday. Powell was indicted on one misdemeanor charge related to accepting cash contributions in excess of $50 and was released on his own recognizance. He will be arraigned Tuesday morning.
State law limits cash contributions to $50 per person.
An indictment is merely a formal charge by a grand jury; it does not indicate guilt or innocence. The indictment and arrest will have no legal impact on Powell’s ability to continue his campaign for office.
Powell said Monday night that is not guilty of the accusations and that he will continue his campaign. To read Powell’s complete statement, click here.
The case against Powell is not likely to be settled prior to the August 14 primary, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
“It would take two or three weeks for an arraignment and several months before any trial,” Eddins said prior the grand jury being convened.
Powell came under scrutiny by the grand jury due to a letter from incumbent Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan to Eddins. Morgan said he was acting as a law enforcement officer, not as a candidate, in writing the letter.
“While I am acutely aware of the political implications of this letter and request, both you and I are sworn to uphold (enforce) laws, regardless of the timing, when made aware of such violations,” Morgan wrote.
In the letter, Morgan lists about 30 cash contributions made to Powell’s campaign that were in excess of the $50 per person cash limit. Campaign finance documents at the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office show cash contributions to Powell’s campaign in excess of $50 in amounts that ranged from $65 to $230.
“This information was brought to my attention by another elected official. And upon further investigation, through public records posted on the Supervisor of Elections Website, it appears that John Powell’s campaign is engaged in an ongoing course of conduct in violation of Florida’s Election Law’s specific limitations on cash contributions,” Morgan wrote.
“As you can surmise, this is no small amount and is indicative of an ongoing flagrant disregard for the very statutes one swears to uphold,” Morgan continued.
Morgan was also a subject of the grand jury’s proceedings on Monday. Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille said Monday night that the grand jury took no action related to Morgan.
Another Hearing Set In Florida Prison Privatization Case
July 31, 2012
A Leon County circuit judge has agreed to hold a hearing next week in the long-running dispute about whether the Florida Department of Corrections will privatize prison health services.
Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll has scheduled an August 8 hearing, according to an online court docket. The Florida Nurses Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit in January challenging a legislative move last year to privatize inmate health services.
Carroll early this month declined to rule on the constitutionality of the Legislature’s decision because it was included in budget fine print, known as “proviso” language, which expired at the June 30 end of the fiscal year.
The nurses association and AFSCME, a state employees union, asked Carroll for a rehearing. Subsequently, the DOC said it would go ahead with the privatization, regardless of the expiration of the proviso language. The DOC said it had the authority to contract with two private companies under existing state law.
By The News Service of Florida
Tennessee Smokes The Wahoos In Twin Bill
July 31, 2012
The Tennessee Smokies swept the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the doubleheader at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tenn. on Monday night. The Smokies took game one 6-3 before edging out the Wahoos in game two 3-2. Billy Hamilton stole third base in the sixth inning for his 116th steal of the season, his 12th with the Blue Wahoos. He is now 29 steals shy of the record.
Tennessee wasted no time in the first game getting on the board first with five first-inning runs against Wahoos starter Mark Serrano. Matt Szczur plated the first run of the inning when he came home on a double by Junior Lake. Juntin Bour brought home Logan Watkins a batter later with a base hit to put the Smokies ahead 2-0. With two on, Greg Rohan cleared the bases with his fifth home run of the season opening up the score making it 5-0.
Mike Brenly made it 6-0 with an RBI single in the fifth scoring Lake from third. Pensacola would cut into the lead in ensuing frame. Hamilton singled home Andrew Means for the Blue Wahoos’ first run of the game in the sixth. Hamilton scored later in the inning with Ryan LaMarre on a Bryson Smith triple but that’s all the Blue Wahoos would get.
Serrano (6-3) took the loss after giving up a season-high six runs on 10 hits over four innings. He struck out five and walked one. Smokies starter Eric Jokisch (7-2) picked up the win after working a seven inning complete game. All three runs he allowed were earned. He faced the minimum and surrendered just one hit over the first five innings of the game.
In game two, the Blue Wahoos and Smokies traded zeros through the first three innings before the Smokies broke through in the fourth. Tony Cingrani uncorked a wild pitch to Mike Burgess allowing Nate Samson to score from third to give the Smokies a 1-0 lead. The Wahoo starter ran into problems again in the fifth. Dustin Harrington scored from third on an errant throw to the plate on a fielder’s choice groundball to the shortstop. The second run in the inning scored when a pickoff attempt at first base got away into foul territory allowing Szczur to score from third making it 3-0 Smokies.
Mark Fleury added some excitement in the seventh when he blasted his first home run of the season with a man on. His shot completely cleared the stadium just inside the right field foul pole. That made it 3-2, and that was as close as the Wahoos would get.
All three Smokies runs were charged to Cingrani (5-3), but only one was earned. He took the loss after going 4.1 innings. The lefty struck out three, walked two and allowed three hits. Casey Weathers (4-1) earned the win out of the bullpen for Tennessee. He worked a scoreless fifth to pick up his fourth win of the season. Despite allowing the home run to Fleury in the seventh, Frank Batista (19) still earned the save.
The two teams will continue the series on Tuesday. RHP Kyle Lotzkar will get the nod for the Blue Wahoos against Smokies RHP Dae-Eun Rhee. First pitch is slated for 6:15 p.m. central time at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tenn.
By Tommy Thrall
Pictured: Mark Fleury went 2-for-3 with his first home run of the year Monday night against Tennessee. Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Crime Prevention Seminar Scheduled
July 31, 2012
A crime prevention seminar aimed at encouraging communication and action within the community will be held Thursday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will host the seminar “Bridging the Gap” at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Pensacola.
Scheduled speakers include:
- Daryl Parks – Parks & Crump, LLC – attorney for the Trayvon Martin family
- Lydia Brouax and Paul Wallis – Department of Juvenile Justice
- Shawn Jackson – The Jaxsun Group – “Safe Schools, Safe Communities”
- Gene Tanner – recruiter for The Florida Youth Challenge Academy
Attendance is free, but seating will be limited. Registration forms are available at the Sheriff’s Office administration building at 1700 West Leonard Street, or by contacting Deputy Delarian Wiggins at dcwiggins@escambiaso.com or (850) 436-9496.
Century Man Sentenced After Drug Raid; Mother And Brother Await Trial
July 30, 2012
A young Century man has been sentenced in connection with a drug raid that landed him behind bars along with his mother and brother.
Nakeetric Devonte Davison, 20, pleaded no contest and adjudication was withheld on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced by Judge Gary Bergosh to 180 days in the county jail, with credit for three days served to be followed by 180 days probation.
He was arrested when the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in February 2012 at a mobile home in the 100 block of West Highway 4, near the Century Care Center nursing home.
Davison’s mother, 44-year old Karen Louise Quinley was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and destruction of evidence. She was released from jail on a $26,000 bond. His brother, 19- year old Cortez Rasheen Davison, was charged with cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from jail on $10,500 bond. Both are awaiting trial later this year.
After gaining entry to the mobile home, deputies reported finding Quinley in her bedroom. Quinley told deputies that she had tried to throw crack cocaine out of her bedroom window when she heard them at the door, but she was unable to get a window to open.
Nakeetric Davison told deputies that everything in his bedroom belonged to him, including the marijuana located by deputies. When asked by deputies if he sells marijuana, Nakeetric Davison replied “Yeah, I don’t have a job”, according to an arrest report.
In Nakeetric Davison’s room, narcotics officers reported finding items that included 417.6 grams pre-packaged marijuana under his bed in a Pringles can, a cookie jar and a plastic container, cash and “owe sheets” on the floor.
Cortez Davison, according to his arrest report, identified his bedroom but refused to answer further questions, instead asking for an attorney.
The February 2012 raid was not the first time the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit targeted alleged drug activity at the trailer. No one was home as officers executed a search warrant at the same mobile home in June 2010, finding a stem of marijuana in a bedroom, crack cocaine on the kitchen table, a razor blade with cocaine residue, a marijuana cigarette and digital scales during their search, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.
Quinley was arrested on multiple charges following the 2010 search, but charges against her were later dropped due to insufficient evidence since she was not at home at the time of the raid.
Pictured above: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a drug-related search warrant at a mobile home in the 100 block of West Highway 4 in Century last February. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Driver Hits Burger King
July 30, 2012
There were no serious injuries Sunday morning when a driver collided with a pole and the Century Burger King.
The accident happened just before 10:30 a.m. when the driver of a Toyota Tacoma reportedly struck a small pole in the parking lot and then the restaurant building.
The driver suffered minor injuries in the crash; there was no damage to the Burger King building.
The accident was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details, including the cause and driver’s name, have not been released.
The Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia Count EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Northview Schedules Freshmen Orientation, 10-12 Grade Schedule Pickups
July 30, 2012
Northview High School will hold a freshmen orientation and schedule pickup for other classes next month.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors may pickup textbooks, schedules and obtain lockers as follows on Wednesday, August 15:
- 8:30 a.m. — Seniors
- 10 a.m. — Juniors
- 1:30 p.m. — Sophomores
Orientation for incoming Northview High School freshmen will be held on Thursday, August 16 at 9 a.m. in the school theater. Students will tour the school, and receive schedules and locker assignments.
The first day of school is Monday, August 20.
Fire Destroys Cantonment Mobile Home
July 30, 2012
A family was left homeless after fire destroyed a mobile home in Cantonment Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters were called to the double-wide trailer in the 700 block of Robinson Street about 4:30 p.m. They arrived to discover that the mobile home on the narrow dirt lane had already burned to the ground before the fire was reported.
There were no injuries reported.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Cantonment, Molino, Beulah and Ensley stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze, along with Escambia County EMS.
The American Red Cross was called to provide temporary assistance to those left homeless by the fire.
Pictured: A mobile home in Cantonment burned to the ground before firefighters were called Sunday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com reader submitted photo, click to enlarge.
Olympics: Men’s Cycling (With NorthEscambia Photo Gallery)
July 30, 2012
In the men’s cycling road race at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Team USA’s Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo.) narrowly missed a podium finish as he place fourth.
A Molino family living in England was there for the men’s cycling road race with photos for NorthEscambia.com. To view the photo gallery, click here.
The gold medal went to Alexandr Vinokurov of Kazakhstan, who out-duelled Rogoberto Uran Uran of Colombia after the two had broken away from the lead pack in the final few kilometers. Alexander Kristoff of Norway edged Phinney at the front of the lead pack to win the bronze medal.
Tyler Farrar (Wenatchee, Wash.) finished 32nd, while Timmy Duggan (Nederland, Colo.) faded from second place earlier in the race to finish 87th. Chris Horner (San Diego, Calif.) ended up in 92nd place.
Pictured above and inset: The men’s cycling road race as seen from The Mall outside Buckingham Palace during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Pictured below: Team USA’s vehicle. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Powered By Chocolate Milk: Run Across Four States For Pensacola Lighthouse
July 30, 2012
A New Orleans man — powered by chocolate milk — has completed a run from New Orleans to Pensacola to raise money for the Pensacola Lighthouse.
Billed as the ‘Krewe du Shoe’ Run, long distance runner George Melichar averaged 60 miles per day to cover the 230 mile distance in four days. Along the way, he could be seen refueling with chocolate milk — one of his run sponsors.
In addition to raising money for the restoration of the Pensacola Lighthouse, Melichars run honored the children attending the Salvation Center School in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
“My passion for running in New Orleans has lead me to serve my community by aiding in recovery.” says Melichar, “As I have traveled the world running marathons, I have come to appreciate the city landmarks, the neighborhoods I run through, and the residents’ enthusiasm as I run pass.”
While the final tally was not immediately available, Melichars goal was to raise $800,000 needed to repoint or restore the weathered masonry in this historical lighthouse tower to ensure it is around for future generations.
“I also hope that by helping to preserve this historical landmark with my four-state run I will also generate attention to the beauty and tourism opportunities available to Gulf Coast visitors.”
To donate or learn more about the Pensacola lighthouse, visit www.pensacolalighthouse.org.
Pictured top: Long distance runner George Melichar on Pensacola NAS near the lighthouse. Pictured inset: Melichar’s run was fueled by chocolate milk. Pictured below: Melichar reaches the Pensacola Lighthouse. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enalrge.
