Escambia Man Gets Life In Prison For Liquor Store Robbery
January 31, 2012
An Escambia County man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Monday for the robbery of a Publix Liquor State early last year.
In December, Clifford Faust, Jr. was convicted by an Escambia County Jury of one count of armed robbery with a firearm. Judge Terry Terrell found that Faust qualified as a prison releasee reoffender based on the fact that was released from prison on grand theft and larceny charges just three months before the robbery.
On February 26, 2011, Faust entered the Publix Liquor Store on Mobile Highway, produced a handgun, and demanded money. After taking the money from the clerk, Faust fled the store on foot. After seeing photos of the surveillance video in the media a family member called law enforcement and identified Faust as the perpetrator.
Faust was identified by eyewitness testimony as well as DNA from cigarette butts located outside of the store.
Escambia Sentenced To 33.5 Years For Attack On Sleeping Woman
January 31, 2012
An Escambia County man was sentenced to 33.5 years in prison Monday on a sexual battery conviction.
Alvin Alexander, 58, was found guilty by an Escambia County jury in September 2011 on three counts of sexual battery with great force, burglary of a dwelling with a battery, and aggravated battery with great bodily harm.
On October 21, 2010, Alexander entered the residence of the 22-year old female victim who was alone at home and asleep in her bed. The victim was awakened by Alexander beating her with a metal pipe. As she tried to escape, Alexander forced her to remain inside. While inside, he continued to beat her with the metal pipe and sexually battered her multiple times, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins.
High School Coach Charged With Sexual Battery Of Student
January 30, 2012
A part-time track coach at Pine Forest High School was arrested Monday afternoon for the alleged sexual battery of one of his students .
Paul Lavell Jones, 28, was arrested after being questioned by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators about an incident that occurred over the weekend with a student.
According to the victim, he was picked up by Paul at his home around 10 p.m. Friday night and taken to several bars and nightclubs in the area and where Jones bought and provided the victim with alcohol.
The victim told investigators that the next thing he remembered was waking up nude in a bed. Jones then took the victim back to the victim’s home. where the victim then told his mother what happened.
Investigators posed as the victim and engaged in a text message conversation with Jones using the victim’s phone. Investigators then made contact with Jones and through the interview and text messaging were able to determine that a crime had occurred, an ECSO press release states.
Jones was charged with sexual batter and giving alcohol to a person under 21 years of age. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $30,000.
Rash Of Molino Vehicle Burglaries Under Investigation
January 30, 2012
A series of vehicle burglaries late last week in the Molino area are under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
About a dozen vehicles were broken into at homes across the Molino area overnight Wednesday and Thursday with the owners reporting the burglaries on Thursday and Friday. No additional vehicle burglaries were reported during the weekend in the area.
At one home on Highway 95A, a resident reported that three vehicles — all unlocked — were burglarized at his home sometime Thursday night. He reported that a .357 revolver, Oakley sunglasses, Nikon binoculars and wallet were missing. Other items — including knives and GPS units — were reported stolen from other vehicles around the area.
Deputies are encouraging residents to lock their vehicles.
So far, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has not reported any leads on the vehicle burglaries. Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or CrimeStoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
The vehicle burglaries were reported on Highway 95A near Kemala Avenue and Brickton Road, Barrineau Park Road near Schifko Road, Barrineau Park Road near Blueberry Lane, Youngwood Lane near Red Fern Road and Schifko Road near Barrineau Park Road.
Pictured: Three of the vehicles that were burglarized late last week in Molino. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Softball Preseason Classic Begins Tuesday
January 30, 2012
The Tate Lady Aggies will host a Preseason Classic Tuesday and Thursday this week at the Tate Softball Field.
On Tuesday, West Florida will take on Pace at 4:30 and Tate will play Escambia at 6:30. The two losing teams will play again Thursday at 4:30, while Tuesday’s winners will meet Thursday at 6:30.
Deer Blamed For Highway 97 Wreck That Injured Two
January 30, 2012
A deer is being blamed for a traffic crash on Highway 97 in Davisville Sunday night.
The driver of a Ford Focus collided with the deer about 6:20 p.m. while southbound on Highway 97 south of Meadows Lane at Mike’s Ag Air Airport. The three people in the vehicle were not injured.
The driver of a motorcycle lost control while southbound on Highway 97 as he saw and attempted to avoid the deer that had just been hit by the Ford Focus. Both the driver and a female passenger on the motorcycle were ejected. They were transported by ambulance to Atmore Community Hospital in stable condition.
Both accidents are under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Atmore Ambulance and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call.
The deer did not survive the collision with the Ford Focus.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Poll: Romney Pulls Ahead Of Gingrich Among Likely GOP Voters
January 30, 2012
Republican candidate Mitt Romney has gained ground on contender Newt Gingrich as the former Massachusetts governor opened up a 38-29 percent lead among likely Republican voters, according to a Quinnipiac Polling Institute poll released Friday. With just hours remaining before the January 31 Florida presidential primary, Romney expanded his lead over the former U.S. House Speaker.
A Q-Poll released Wednesday showed the two in a statistical dead heat following Gingrich’s victory over Romney in South Carolina last week. The poll’s margin of error is 4.1 percentage points.
By The News Service of Florida
Two Railroad Crossings Being Installed In Walnut Hill
January 30, 2012
Railroad crossing gates and flashing lights are being installed at two locations in Walnut Hill at a cost of about $445,000.
The crossing are being install on Arthur Brown Road about two miles west of Highway 97 and on Pine Forest Road.
Arthur Brown Road
The Florida Department of Transportation will fund the $250,000 estimated cost to improve the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway crossing on Arthur Brown Road. Escambia County and Alabama & Gulf Coast will split the $3,146 annual maintenance cost for the crossing controls.
Currently, westbound drivers on Arthur Brown Road approaching the crossing travel parallel to the railroad tracks before making an immediate 90 degree turn across the tracks, making it difficult to see oncoming trains.
Work on the Arthur Brown Crossing began last week.
Pine Forest Road
A railroad crossing signal will be installed on Pine Forest Road in Walnut Hill.
The Florida Department of Transportation will fund the $195,000 estimated cost to improve the the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway crossing on Pine Forest Road.. Escambia County and Alabama & Gulf Coast will split the $3,146 annual maintenance for the crossing controls.
The railway, Pelt Road and Rockaway Creek Road all intersect Pine Forest Road over about a 200 foot span, in what is almost a three-way intersection with the railroad tracks in the middle. The crossing is about two miles from Highway 97.
Work on the crossing is expected to begin as early as this week.
Pictured: Work is almost complete on a new railroad cross on Arthur Brown Road in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Baggett, Johnson Headed To Boys State
January 30, 2012
Two Northview High School juniors have beenchosen as Boys State representatives for 2012.
Corry Baggett and Trey Johnson were chosen by The American Legion to travel to Tallahassee for a week long comprehensive course in state and local government.
- Develop civic leadership and pride in American citizenship
- Develop a keen interest in the detailed study of our government
- Develop in our citizens a determination to maintain our form of government, primarily by bringing them to the realization of how great it is to be an American
- Develop a sense of individual obligation to the Community, State and Nation
- Safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of Justice, Freedom and Democracy.
Pictured: Northview juniors Trey Johnson (left) and Correy Baggett were chosen for Boys State. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Struck And Killed By Molino Couple’s Vehicle On Hwy 29
January 29, 2012
A Molino couple’s vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian on Highway 29 Saturday night in Pensacola.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 47-year old Johanna L. Kenney of Pensacola was walking along the west shoulder of Highway 29 approaching Hood Drive, near the Ensley Walmart, about 9:25 p.m.
A 2002 GMC Sierra driven by 68-year old John C. Marshall of Molino was traveling south in the southbound outside lane of Highway 29. That’s when Kenney left the west shoulder of the road and walked into the southbound lanes of Highway 29 and into the path of Marshall’s vehicle.
Kenney was pronounced dead on the scene. Marshall and his passenger, 62-year old Nancy P. Marshall, were not injured.
No charges have been filed in the accident, but it remains under investigation, according to the FHP.
The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue, Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the accident.