Jesse LaCoste Of Cantonment Convicted Of Grand Theft, Contractor Fraud
October 17, 2025
An Escambia County jury deliberated for just over an hour Thursday before convicting embattled contractor Jesse Wayne LaCoste of Cantonment of grand theft and contractor fraud, both second degree felonies.
He now faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 11 and remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
LaCoste was originally indicted on one count of racketeering and two counts of organized fraud.
The indictment alleged that between June 2018 and August 2022, LaCoste unlawfully managed LaCoste Construction Group, LLC and LaCoste General Contractors LLC by engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity, involving forgery, perjury, false official statements, theft, and insurance fraud.
According to investigators, LaCoste allegedly defrauded homeowners, their insurance companies, subcontractors and suppliers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties of more than $2 million. LaCoste also allegedly forged and falsified applications to obtain his county and state contractor licenses.
LaCoste’s brother-in-law, Matthew Banks, is awaiting trial on similar racketeering and other contracting-related charges.
$1.4 Million For Escambia Parks Includes Splash Pad In Beulah, Park Shade In Gonzalez
October 17, 2025
The Escambia County Commission on Thursday approved nearly $1.4 million for miscellaneous park amenities, including play equipment and a splash pad in Beulah, and a shade structure for the Jennings-Gonzalez Park.
It was a warm, sunny afternoon when the ribbon was cut on April 2 for the new Jennings-Gonzalez Park on Goldenrod Road. The new playground does not have any trees or other shade near the playground.
“We may have to look at one of those fancy sunshades,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Barry quipped at the ribbon cutting, “as the summer sets on to us.” Numerous residents have requested some sort of shade at the park since it opened.
The new park amenities include $27,192.53 for a shade structure. It also includes $61,365.29 for play equipment at the Beulah Senior Citizens Center on Woodside Road, and $145,805.05 for a splash pad at the Beulah Regional Park near the Equestrian Center on Mobile Highway. The largest single expenditure will be $227,529.50 for a splash pad at Brownsville Park.
The $1,385,933.06 approved by the BOCC includes:
- Play Equipment at Beulah Senior Citizen Center – $61,365.29
- Shade Structure at Jennings Gonzalez Park – $27,192.53
- Play Equipment at Lincoln Park – $32,225.21
- Play Equipment at Marie Ella Davis Park – $44,593.12
- Play Structure at Perdido Kids Park – $847,222.36
- Splash Pad at Beulah Regional Park – $145,805.05
- Splash Pad at Brownsville Park – $227,529.50
Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds will be used to pay for the improvements.
Pictured above and below: The grand opening of the Jennings-Gonzalez Park on April 2, 2025. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
October 17, 2025
Northview High School recently named its Students of the Month for September. Pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill., they are Christian Callender (left) and Sydney Little. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
State Arrests Two Atmore Residents On Contraband Charges
October 17, 2025
State authorities arrested two Atmore residents on Thursday on prison contraband charges.
The Alabama Department of Corrections K-9 and Narcotics Units arrested Jeffery Brooks and Marilyn Sharp at their home.
Brooks was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking fentanyl, possession of controlled substance synthetic, unlawful possession of marijuana 1st degree, prohibited activity, and promoting prison contraband 1st degree
Sharp was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking fentanyl, possession of controlled substance synthetic, unlawful possession of marijuana 1st degree, and prohibited activity.
ADOC said iems seized during a search of the residence included:
• 144 grams methamphetamine
• 25 grams controlled substance synthetic
• 10 grams fentanyl
• 158 grams marijuana
“These arrests are the result of an ongoing investigation into a promotion of prison contraband case at Fountain Correctional Facility by the Alabama Department of Corrections K-9 and Narcotics Units,” the agency said.
Boil Water Notice For Highway 297A, Pinebrook, Pleasant Valley Area
October 16, 2025
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) has issued a precautionary boil water notice is in effect for a portion the Highway 297A area.
The boil water notice is in effect for :
- 411-453 Pinebrook Circle
- 2548 -2611 Highway 297A
- Pleasant Valley Drive
This notice was issued after repairs were made to a broken 12-inch water main. Precautionary boil water notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Residents located in the specified area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours.
ECUA crews completed the repairs to the main and have flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
This story will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted.
NTSB Releases Preliminary Report On Bluff Springs Plane Crash
October 16, 2025
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary investigation report on a July 9 single-engine plane crash in Bluff Springs.
A witness reported the plane flying just above the treetops before the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a freshly plowed field where the plane flipped. The crash, which occurred around 6:20 p.m., was several hundred feet east of Highway 29, just north of Bluff Springs and Byrneville Roads, or about 1.5 miles south of Century
The pilot and a passenger were able to walk away from the crash and depart in a private vehicle. The report states that they were not injured.
According to Federal Aviation Administration registration data, the 1967 Cessna 172H belongs to an individual in Atmore.
The NTSB report says the personal flight departed the Atmore Municipal Airport at about 6 p.m.
“About 20 minutes later, while cruising at 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl), the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and made a forced landing to a peanut field. When the airplane touched down, it nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder,” the investigation report states.
The plane was removed from the accident site days later and retained for further examination.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Worship And Witness: Hundreds Attended Northview FCA’s Fields Of Faith Event
October 16, 2025
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Hundreds of people attended the Northview High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes Fields of Faith service Wednesday night in the school’s Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
“You want to see a revival in Escambia County?” asked Pastor Phil Fischer of Dogwood Park Baptist Church as he urged those in attendance to spread the word about salvation. “The labors went out, with urgency to take the Gospel to people that don’t have the Gospel.”
Several students gave their testimony during the service, which included worship music and concluded with about 300 people forming a prayer circle on the Northview football field, stretching from red zone to red zone.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Fields of Faith is a national student-led initiative. “Students invite, pray for, share with, and challenge their peers to read the Bible and follow Jesus Christ. An athletic field provides a neutral, rally point where a community can come together,” according to national organizers.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Atmore Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Shooting Incident
October 16, 2025
The Atmore Police Department arrested a local man on a charge of attempted murder following a shooting incident Wednesday that reportedly endangered the lives of residents in nearby homes.
The shooting occurred about 8:17 p.m. near the intersection of Carver Avenue and 5th Street.
Brandon James McNeal, age 29 of Atmore, was taken into custody after turning himself in at the Flomaton Police Department. He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center without bond.
According to the Atmore Police Department, the incident involved McNeal discharging a weapon at another individual. Police said bullets struck more than one residence in the area.
APD said McNeal is expected to face additional charges for the discharge of a firearm into an occupied building.
The scene of the shooting prompted a large-scale response from various units within the Atmore Police Department, including Patrol, the Criminal Investigation Division, the Narcotics/Vice Unit, the Crime Scene Division, and the Special Response Team (SRT).
The Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, Flomaton Police Department, Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and Poarch Creek Tribal Police assisted in the search for McNeal.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High, Beulah Middle, Beulah Academy Place In District 1 FFA Forestry Event
October 16, 2025
More than 100 students from 17 schools competed for the District 1 FFA Forestry Career Development Event recently, with teams from Tate High School and Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy taking home the overall top team honors and will advance to the state competition.
The competition was held at the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center Training Center in Holt and tested students on their skills in diagnosing forest disorders, managing forests and forest inventory and applying approved silviculture practices. Participating students were from Escambia, Holmes, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington counties.
Participants competed in tree measurement, map interpretation, identifying trees and equipment as well as a general forestry knowledge. Luke Graham from Tate High won the top spot in the high school division while Nate Abbott of Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy in DeFuniak Springs took first in the middle school individual competition.
The first-place team for the high school division was Tate High School Team A, and Tate’s second team, Team B, took second place. (Both Tate teams are pictured as a group above.)
Pleasant Ridge Team A won first place for the middle school division. Beulah Middle School’s Team A finished second, and the Beulah Academy of Science Team A.
Full results are as follows:
High School Team Competition
- 1st place: Tate High School- Team A
- 2nd place: Tate High School- Team B
- 3rd place: Milton High School- Team A
Middle School Team Competition
- 1st place: Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy Team A
- 2nd place: Beulah Middle Team A
- 3rd place: Beulah Academy of Science Team A
High School Individual Winners
- Luke Graham, Tate High School Team A
- General Knowledge
- Dendrology
- Map Interpretation
- Equipment ID
- Emma Posey, Central High School Team A
- Timber Cruising
- Alex Apperson, Tate High School, Team A
- Tree/Forest Disorders
Middle School Individual Winners
- Nate Abbott, Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy
- General Knowledge
- Equipment ID
- Map Interpretation
- Giselle Rodriguez, Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy
- Dendrology
- Tree/Forest Disorders
- Payton Coon, Pleasant Ridge Christian Academy
- Timber Cruising
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Above: Tate Team A — first place
Above: Tate Team B — second place
Above: Belah Academy of Science — third place
Typo Leads State To Reject Escambia County Emergency Response Agreement With Century Prison
October 16, 2025
A simple single-letter typographical error led to the state rejecting an Escambia County agreement to provide fire suppression and rescue services for the Century Correctional Institution.
A 2022 agreement with the Florida Department of Corrections was renewed for five years for Escambia County Fire Rescue to continue providing fire services and Escambia County EMS to respond to medical emergencies when the need arises.
On June 5, the Escambia County Commission approved the agreement, BOCC Chairman Mike Kohler signed it, and it was forwarded to FDOC. But FDOC discovered that the signatory page had Deputy General Counsel Kristen Clemons’ name spelled as “Kristin” (with an “i” instead of an “e’), and the state rejected the agreement. Both are pictured below.
As a formality, the Escambia Commission will approve a new copy of the very same agreement, just without the typo. During the reapproval process, there was no lapse in emergency services for the prison.
Century Correctional is located on Tedder Road, a short distance from the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. In the event of a fire or other emergency, other surrounding ECFR stations may also respond.
Escambia County agreed to provide the following on an as-needed basis 24 hours a day, seven days a week:
- Fire suppression and fire equipment;
- Fire investigation;
- Contact for ambulance and emergency medical services; and
- Rescue of inmates/persons who may have become trapped.
- There are no financial obligations between the parties.
Pictured: An Escambia County EMS ambulances exist the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
