State Appeal Court Denies Mom’s Appeal In Tate Homecoming Queen Scandal Case
April 13, 2024
The Florida First District Court of Appeal has ruled that statements are admissible from a former assistant principal convicted for her part in wrongly helping her daughter win the Tate High School homecoming queen.
In September 2022, Laura Carroll pleaded no contest to one count of felony unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and adjudication was withheld by Judge Coleman Robinson. Carroll was sentenced to 18 months supervised probation. She was also ordered to pay costs or perform community service, and pay the cost of her probation supervision, according to court documents.
In her appeal, Carroll moved to suppress the statements she made to a school district investigator. She argued that her statements were coerced in violation of her right against self-incrimination because she feared adverse employment consequences if she did not cooperate with the investigator. The trial court denied the motion, and it was upheld by the appeals court.
Carroll’s daughter, Emily Rose Grover, was charged by FDLE with the same offenses. After her successful completion of a pretrial intervention program, the state dismissed the charges against the daughter.
In January 2022, Grover entered a pre-trial diversion program that resulted in the charges against her being dismissed in March 2022.
Case Background
According to the Florida First District Court of Appeal ruling:
When the results of Tate High School’s 2020 homecoming queen election came in, Laura Carroll’s daughter appeared to have won convincingly. But not everyone was convinced. The teacher responsible for administering the election reported to school officials that many votes in the election had been flagged by the election application software—and that every flagged vote had been cast for Carroll’s daughter.
At the time, Carroll was an assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School, with districtwide access to all student accounts in the school district’s FOCUS portal. It was suspected by some that Carroll’s daughter had access to her mother’s credentials to the FOCUS portal and had used that access to acquire confidential student information. Information that she then used to cast votes for herself in the homecoming 2 queen election. The school district appointed Gary Marsh to investigate the report. Marsh concluded that the suspicions linking Carroll to the improperly cast votes were well-founded.
Tate High School allowed students to vote for homecoming queen through an application called Election Runner. On election day, Election Runner administrators reported to the school district that one hundred seventeen votes had been flagged as “false.” To cast votes in the election, students had to verify their identity using their student identification number and their date of birth. This information was available in FOCUS. All the votes flagged by Election Runner were from students whose records had been accessed from Carroll’s FOCUS account in the thirty days before the election. And every flagged vote was cast for Carroll’s daughter.
As an assistant principal at Belleview with administrator access, Carroll could use FOCUS to review confidential information for any student in the school district, including grades, attendance, and mental health records. Marsh reviewed a report from the school’s information management system and confirmed that Carroll’s FOCUS credentials were used to view confidential information of two hundred twelve Tate High School students in the thirty days before the homecoming queen election. And in the year before the election, confidential records of three hundred thirty-nine students at Tate were accessed with Carroll’s credentials. As Carroll worked at the elementary school, it was unclear why she would have needed to access records of students at Tate.
District officials decided to question Carroll to see if she had an explanation for accessing so many high school student records. Marsh went to Belleview to speak with Carroll, but she refused to talk to him. Marsh then asked Carroll to come to the school district’s office for a formal interview.
When Carroll arrived, she was questioned for an hour by Marsh, with another school district official present—the information technology security manager. Carroll sat close to the door in the conference room where she was questioned. Marsh confirmed to Carroll that she was free to leave at any time.
Carroll answered some questions but she refused to answer others. At times, she stated: “Well, I’m not going to tell you that,” and “I’m not going to tell you.” She did admit that she had provided her daughter with access to her FOCUS credentials in the past.
When the school district’s investigation concluded, Marsh reported the data breach to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE investigated and verified that someone using Carroll’s credentials illegally accessed confidential records of Tate High School students in FOCUS. FDLE confirmed that one hundred seventeen votes in the homecoming queen election originated from a single Internet Protocol (IP) address. FDLE traced the IP address to Verizon and back to Carroll’s cell phone number.
FDLE also obtained nine written statements from Tate High School students and one teacher who attested that they had witnessed Carroll’s daughter using her mother’s FOCUS credentials or that the daughter had spoken with them about such use. One student reported that Carroll’s daughter had bragged about using her mother’s FOCUS credentials for the past four years, from the time she was a freshman at Tate. FDLE learned that FOCUS users had to change their passwords every forty-five days—meaning that Carroll’s daughter would have needed to regularly obtain or discover Carroll’s new passwords. FDLE also reviewed a written statement provided by Carroll’s daughter, admitting that she had access to Carroll’s FOCUS account.
FDLE also obtained records of the administrative hearing on the expulsion of Carroll’s daughter from school. During the hearing, Carroll submitted a letter to the hearing officer, stating that her daughter was guilty of accessing information from Carroll’s FOCUS account. Carroll admitted that she herself had viewed the records of hundreds of students at Tate by using her district administrator access.
FDLE applied for a warrant for Carroll’s arrest. Carroll* was arrested and charged with (1) accessing a computer system without authorization, (2) illegal use of personal identification information, (3) unlawful use of a two-way communications device to facilitate the commission of a felony, and (4) conspiracy to commit a felony.
Carroll moved to suppress the statements she made during the meeting with Marsh. She argued that her statements were coerced in violation of her right against self-incrimination because she feared adverse employment consequences if she did not cooperate with Marsh. The trial court denied the motion.
Carroll then pleaded no contest to the use of a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony in exchange for the State dropping the other three charges. She reserved the right to appeal the trial court’s denial of her motion to suppress. The trial court withheld adjudication and sentenced her to eighteen months of probation. This timely appeal followed.
Escambia River Flood Warning Canceled
April 13, 2024
The flood warning has been canceled for the Escambia River near Century.
At 7 p.m. Friday, the stage was 16 feet. The river was expected to rise to a crest of 16.7 feet by Saturday afternoon before falling.
Flood stage is 17.0 feet. At 19 feet, low lying pastures will flood forcing cattle to be moved to higher ground.
Softball: Stuckey Homers Again As Milton Defeats Northview; Tate Over Niceville
April 13, 2024
Milton 5, Northview 3
A long winning streak came to an end for the Northview Chiefs as they fell to Milton 5-3 Friday night in Milton.
Northview’s Avery Stucky had two hits and three RBIs, including a home run to centerfield in the top of the sixth inning — her fifth homer of the season.
Chloe Ragsdale also had two hits for the Chiefs.
Jamison Gilman took the loss in the circle for the Chiefs. She went for four innings, giving up two runs and three hits while striking out four and walking one. Mikayla McAnally pitched two innings, allowing four hits and three runs, striking out two and walking one.
Up next, Northview will travel to Baker on Monday at 6 p.m.
Tate 3, Niceville 1
The Tate Lady Aggies beat Niceville 3-1 Friday night.
Jordan Smith recorded 21 outs as she earned the win for Tate as she pitched a complete game, giving up eight hits and one run, striking out four and walking one.
Lacy Wilson went 2-3 with one RBI for the Aggies, and Kara Wine was 1-3 with two RBIs.
The Tate Aggies will be at West Florida on Tuesday.
Pace Defeats Tate Aggies
April 13, 2024
Pace 10, Tate 0
The Pace Patriots shut out the Tate Aggies 10-0 Friday night in Pace.
Zane Warrington took the loss for the Aggies, giving up five runs and three hits, striking out two and walking four.
Bray Touchstone and Conner Hassell each had one hit for the Aggies.
Up next, Tate will host Washington on Tuesday.
10,000 Pound Food Distribution Tuesday Afternoon In Cantonment
April 13, 2024
Cantonment Improvement Committee will hold a 10,000 pound drive-thru food giveaway Tuesday afternoon, April 16 at Carver Park on Webb Street.
The food distribution will begin at 3 p.m. and continue while supplies last for anyone in need of food. People should line up their vehicles, single file on Webb Street facing north; food will be loaded into vehicles.
There is a maximum of three people per vehicle that can receive a box, and each person must have their ID. For Tuesday’s event, there is also a limit of one meat item per box.
NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Big Inning Not Enough As Wahoos Fall 10-6 In Montgomery
April 13, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos finally broke through offensively on Friday night, but a five-run third inning was quickly erased in a 10-6 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits.
The Biscuits pitching staff had allowed only five earned runs all season before Bennett Hostetler doubled off Logan Workman and Dalvy Rosario singled to give the Blue Wahoos a 1-0 lead. Paul McIntosh followed with an RBI groundout and Zach Zubia blasted his first career Double-A homer to highlight what became a five-run third inning and a 5-0 Blue Wahoos lead.
Staked to an early lead in his Blue Wahoos debut, starter Valente Bellozo (L, 0-1) allowed RBI singles to Dominic Keegan and Tanner Murray before a two-run homer from Heriberto Hernandez tied the game 5-5 in the bottom half of the third inning.
Bob Seymour broke the 5-5 tie in the fourth with a two-run single off Jeff Lindgren. Javier Sanoja singled in the top of the fifth against reliever Sean Hunley (W, 1-0) to draw to within a run, but that was as close as the Blue Wahoos would get.
Montgomery added a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double from Dru Baker, his fourth hit of the night, and a homer from Keegan in the sixth for a 10-6 final.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series in Montgomery against the Biscuits on SaturEditday. First pitch of game one from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 4:00.
Update: Woman Dead, Man Critical After Pickup Hits Their Motorcycle in Highway 29 Construction Area
April 12, 2024
A woman was killed and a 21-year-old Molino man critical after their motorcycle was struck by a pickup truck in a construction area on in Molino.
The crash happened on Highway 29 near the Highway 97 intersection at about 10:50 p.m.
A 21-year of Molino man was traveling north on Highway 29 on a yellow Honda motorcycle. He was travelling with a woman who has not yet been identified, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The motorcycle entered a roadway construction area lane closure and proceeded to stop,” the Florida Highway Patrol stated in their report.
A 43-year-old Century man was also traveling north on Highway 29 approaching the construction area in a gray pickup truck towing a utility trailer.
FHP said, “the front of the Toyota pickup struck the rear of the Honda motorcycle”.
The man and woman from thrown from the motorcycle and landed on the roadway. The pickup truck came to a stop on the shoulder of the road.
The woman was pronounced deceased on the scene, and the man was airlifted to an area hospital by MedStar AirCare helicopter. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured.
No further information has been released as troopers continue their investigation.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Aggies Defeat Crestview ; Smilie Homers In JV Win
April 12, 2024
Tate 12, Crestview 4 (Varsity)
The highway has been kind in Atmore to the Tate Lady Aggies as earned their second consecutive road win 12-4 over Crestview Thursday night.
The Aggies entered Tuesday’s contest following a 10-5 win Tuesday at Navarre.
Kate Balagbagan earned the win for Tate, giving up three his and no runs, striking out three and walking two in five innings. Jordan Smith pitched two innings in relief, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out none and walking none.
Kara Wine led the Aggie at bat, going 3-4 wine one RIB. Kaylie Mitchell was 2-3 for Tate, and Peyton Womack was 2-4 with three RBIs.
The Aggies will host Niceville Friday at 6 p.m.
Tate 16, Crestview 6 (JV)
In junior varsity action, Tate came from behind to defeat Crestview 16-6. Madison Smilie had a home run for the JV Lady Aggies.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com click to enlarge.
Groundbreaking Held For Tiny Home Manufacturing Facility Inside The Century Prison
April 12, 2024
Prisoners at the Century Correctional Institution will soon be building tiny homes inside the facility to help with affordable housing in the local area.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday at the facility on Tedder Road with the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) and PRIDE Enterprises — PRIDE is an acronym, which stands for Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises. PRIDE is a not-for-profit corporation created by the Florida Legislature in 1981. It receives no state appropriations.
A few years ago, PRIDE Enterprises Board Chairman James Reeves had a vision for PRIDE to expand operations into the Panhandle area.
Reeves identified a need for more affordable housing in the Panhandle, and in 2023, he guided the PRIDE Staff and board to adapt a plan to move forward with a PRIDE business inside the Century Correctional Institution that will manufacture tiny homes. They will be built by trained and certified inmates in a manufacturing environment.
Most of these homes will be sold in the region to meet the growing need to make housing affordable for the underserved people and families in the area.
Each inmate in the 40-student program has made a commitment to stay in the eight-county region when they reach the end of their sentence, so they can become a productive member of society using the skills obtained in the work program.
In January of 2024, Pride was awarded a Triumph Gulf Coast BP Oil Spill grant of $923,745 to reimburse for training and certification services provided by Pensacola State College. PRIDE is also contributing $521,000 to build a new 11,250 square feet facility at Century CI.
It is expected that the production facility with be complete by mid-2024 with tiny home production beginning in 2024.
Attendees at Thursday’s groundbreaking include FDC Secretary Ricky Dixon, PRIDE Enterprises President Blake Brown, PRIDE Enterprises Chairman James Reeves, Florida State Sen. Doug Broxson, Florida State Rep. Michelle Salzman, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, and other FDC leadership and officials.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wednesday Storms Blame For Century Sewage Spill
April 12, 2024
The Town of Century reported a small sewage spill due to the severe weather on Wednesday.
The town reported an electrical breaker for side stream lift station at the wastewater treatment was turned off or tripped, “likely caused by severe weather”.
The town reported 100 gallons of untreated sewage was spilled, of which 90 gallons were recovered. Lime was applied to the area, and it was washed down.
Pictured: The Century Wastewater Treatment Plant. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.