Molino Couple In Court In Alleged Cancer Scam Case
September 16, 2011
The Molino couple accused of faking her cancer diagnosis to scam people out of thousands of dollars were back in court this week.
Both Chris and Sonja Luker appeared before Judge Joel Boles for a docket hearing before their scheduled trial date of September 29th. Boles granted a postponement request by the defense. Both Lukers will be back in court for a docket hearing on January 11 ,2012, and their trial is now set for jury selection to begin January 23, 2012.
Felony grand theft charges were dropped against the couple back in May, but they both still face felony fraud charges in the alleged scheme.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, numerous fundraisers were held between May 2004 and October 2010 that raised over $19,000. Evidence shows that about $14,000 was used in 2009 to avoid foreclosure on their home in the 4700 block of Pine Circle Drive and about $4,000 in cash was used by Chris Luker to purchase a 1997 Harley motorcycle.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation found that Chris and Sonja Luker personally received money from friends, family, church members and co-workers under a “scheme” that Sonja Luker was being treated for cancer. Investigators believe both Chris and Sonja Luker are guilty of fraud in the scheme; witnesses said the couple was observed together at fundraisers talking about her cancer treatments.
They have each pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.
Pictured above: Sonja and Chris Luker (in black shirts) are seen in a 2009 NorthEscambia.com photo from a motorcycle ride fundraiser that benefited her alleged fight against cancer. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Takes Cross Country Meet; Ernest Ward Fields First-Ever Team
September 16, 2011
The Northview Chiefs took a cross country meet with Baker Thursday afternoon — the first meet for the Ernest Ward Middle School Cross Country Team in school history.
At the high school level, the Northview girls won with 22 points to Baker’s 44, and the Northview boys won with 22 points to the Baker Gators’ 33.
For a photo gallery from the meet, click here.
OVERALL RESULTS
- Fastest high school girl -Georgia Goetter 24:31 Northview
- Fastest high school Boy- Dylan Scott 18:29 Baker
- Fastest middle school Girl -Sierra Brannon 28:21 Baker
- Fastest middle school Boy -Michael Copeland 26:51 Baker
HIGH SCHOOL
- Top 5 Northview girls: Georgia Goetter, Lakelynn Parker, zacarra Davis, Jazzlyn Franklin, Ashley Joiner
- Top 5 Baker girls: Katelyn Prahl, Sierra Brannon, Anna Scott, Isabella Chunn, Katie Smith
- Top 5 Northview boys: Isaac McGahan, Dakota Craft, Joseph Baldwin, Jonathan Moretz, Joshua Borelli
- Top 5 Baker boys: Dylan Scott, Sage Smith, Arec Thompson, Johnathon Ramos, Michael Copeland
MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Top 2 Ernest Ward girls: Bethany Reynolds 28:55, Natalie Goetter 30:04
- Top 2 Ernest Ward boys: Zachary Calloway 31:17, Gavin Coon 31:23
- Top 2 Baker girls: Sierra Brannon 28:21, Anna Scott 30:31
- Top 2 Baker boys: Michael Copeland 26:51, Austin Mayo 28:43
Pictured top: Top Northview High School male and female runners Isaac McGahan and Georgia Goetter during a cross country meet Thursday afternoon at Northview. Pictured below: Top Ernest Ward Middle male and female runners Bethany Reynolds and Zachary Calloway. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Charged With Exposing Himself To Children Headed To School Bus Stop
September 16, 2011
A Santa Rosa County man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly exposing himself to five children as they walked to a school bus stop.
Brian Lee Brown, 38, was allegedly standing naked in the doorway of the shed where he lives, touching himself, as the first children walked past to their bus stop on Auburn Road in Pace. Brown told deputies that when he woke up he opened the door of the shed where he lives to get dressed.
“Brown stated that he didn’t expect children to be walking past his shed towards the bus stop. Brown stated that he didn’t mean to expose himself to the children, and stated that he ‘is not a pervert’,” according to a press release from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Brown is facing five counts of lewd or lascivious behavior and was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond.
PSC Holds Meeting On Gulf Power Rate Increase
September 16, 2011
The Florida Public Service Commission held a public hearing in Pensacola Thursday before considering another rate hike for Gulf Power.
Gulf Power was granted a four percent interim rate increase that begins appearing on customer’’s electric bills this month. Under the interim increase, Gulf Power residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours a month will see their bills go from $122.67 to $127.16. Utilities commonly use 1,000 kilowatt hours as a measuring stick, but many homes use more electricity than that each month.
If the permanent rate hike is approved, those same residential customers would see their monthly bills increase to $134.82, according to Gulf Power. The total increase would amount to about $146 per year for the 1,000 kilowatt hour per month customer.
Gulf Power, which serves 431,000 customers in eight counties, has not received a base-rate increase in nearly a decade. Base rates pay for many day-to-day operations of utilities, but customers also face other charges for expenses such as power-plant fuel.
The company contends that it needs to increase base rates, at least in part, because of the costs of adding power lines and other types of infrastructure.
Escambia, Alabama School Superintendent Stepping Down
September 16, 2011
Escambia County (Ala.) School Superintendent William N. Hines announced Thursday that he’s stepping down.
Hines told the Escambia County (Ala.) School Board that he will retire by December 1 for financial reasons. He will retire with 34 years in the Escambia school system, six of those years as superintendent.
The school board can appoint an interim superintendent for up to 180 days as they begin the search for a replacement.
Free Computer Classes: Learn Resumé Creation, Email And Craigslist
September 16, 2011
Free computer classes will be offered on Saturdays at the Century Branch Library.
Classes include:
- September 17 – Creating a Resumé
- September 24 – Email II
- October 1 – Job Searching Craigslist.
All classes will be held from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Space is limited. For more information, call the Century Branch Library at (850) 256-6217.
Man Sentenced For 2010 Murder
September 16, 2011
An Escambia County man was sentenced Thursday to state prison for a June 2010 murder.
Alberto Christopher Leslie received a 30 year sentence for manslaughter with a firearm and a consecutive 10 year sentence for possession of firearm by a convicted felon, according to State Attorney Bill Eddins. Leslie had been convicted by an Escambia County Jury on August 12, 2011.
The sentence stemmed from the shooting of Brandon Stovall in the Twin Oaks Apartment Complex on June 21, 2010. As Stovall was leaving the apartment complex, he and Leslie got into an argument. During the course of the argument Leslie pulled out a .32 caliber firearm and shot Stovall four times in the head. Stovall was pronounced dead at the scene.
Leslie admitted to the killing, but argued that it was committed in self-defense. He had originally been charged with second degree murder, but was convicted of the lesser offense of manslaughter.
Two Teens Injured In Dirt Road Crash
September 15, 2011
Two teens were injured in a single vehicle crash Thursday afternoon on a dirt road near McDavid.
A 16-year old lost control of his Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck on Pine Barren Road and struck several trees just before 6 p.m.. The driver and his 14-year passenger were transported to West Florida Hospital by Escambia County EMS with non-life threatening injuries.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the accident.
Picture: Two teens were injured in this single vehicle crash Thursday afternoon on Pine Barren Road. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Fire Destroys Molino Barn
September 15, 2011
Fire destroyed a large barn in Molino Thursday afternoon.
The fire was reported about 3 pm. in the 10000 block on Pilgrim Trail. The barn was full engulfed when the first firefighters arrived on scene. The 30 by 40 foot barn contained a large amount of hay, which took about three hours to extinguish.
The barn was located down a long drive behind a residence. The residence was not threatened by the blaze, but firefighters worked to prevent a second barn and a wooded area from burning.
There were no injuries reported. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
The Molino, McDavid, Walnut Hill, Cantonment and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the blaze, along with Escambia County EMS. The Ensley Station of Escambia Fire Rescue moved their engine to Molino while the Flomaton Volunteer Fire Department stood by in the Century to handle any additional calls in North Escambia.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
Pictured above and below: Fire destroyed this barn on Pilgrim Trail in Molino Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Arnold Gets Life For Murdering Pregnant Woman, Baby
September 15, 2011
A Cantonment man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for the stabbing death of a pregnant Cantonment woman and her unborn child.
Phillip Arnold, 66, was sentenced by Judge Jan Shackelford to life in prison for the murder of 44-year old Angela Castella Brown. He also received a concurrent life sentence for the murder of her baby Angel Chambers. On August 19, after a two-day trial, Arnold was found guilty by an Escambia County jury of second degree murder for killing Angela Brown and first degree murder for killing her baby, Angel Chambers.
On July 5, 2010, Arnold fatally stabbed Brown, who was six months pregnant, on South Chipper Road. She underwent an emergency C-section after she was stabbed. The baby died just over seven hours after being delivered.