Photos: Beulah Dash Held Saturday
March 31, 2024
Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Beulah hosted Beulah Dash Saturday at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.
The family-friendly event featured a color run 5K, egg hunts including a special needs hunt, inflatables, food trucks, the Easter Bunny and more
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Camp Fire Kids Take Part In Nursing Facility Egg Hunt, Visit Easter Bunny
March 31, 2024
Students at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center were recently invited to take part in an Easter egg hunt at the Century Health and Rehabilitation Center. Students were also visited at the center by the Easter Bunny.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Seeks To Reverse Plea In Conviction As Accessory In 2018 Walnut Hill Murder
March 30, 2024
A man recently sentenced to prison as an accessory in a 2018 Walnut Hill murder case has filed a motion to withdraw a no contest plea he made over four years ago.
Christopher James Logan Stacey was sentenced in January 2024 to 40 years in prison for accessory after the face to first degree premeditated murder and accessory after the face to first degree attempted premeditated murder. He received credit for 1,612 days served in the county jail awaiting trial.
Stacey allegedly helped his father transport the bodies to Alabama and burn the evidence in Florida.
He appeared before Escambia County Circuit Court Judge Linda Nobles this week, saying that he wanted to withdraw his no contest plea because he thought he would be sentenced as a youthful offender or to just 10 years.
According to a motion filed in circuit court, Christopher James Logan Stacey seeks to withdraw his plea because it was “entered due to defense counsel coercing him and/or not explaining all implications of the plea”. His attorney, Bryan J. Hamlin, disputes the claim and asked the court to appoint another “conflict-free” counsel. A hearing is set for next week before Judge Linda Nobles.
According to court transcript , Stacey was asked by the court, “And has anyone forced you to enter a plea against your will?” to which Stacey replied, “no, sir”.
“Has anyone promised you and guarantee you what your furfure sentence will be,” the judge asked.
“No, sir,” Stacey replied, according to transcripts.
Judge Nobles will issue a ruling at a later date.
Christopher James Logan Stacey’s father, Christopher Alan Stacey was convicted in September 2023 and sentenced to life plus 30 years for second degree murder and attempted second degree murder. He was originally indicted for first degree premeditated murder and attempted first degree premeditated murder but pleaded to the lesser charges.
Christopher Alan Stacey claimed the shootings were self defense. Court motions and denied appeals from the Florida First District Court of Appeals delayed the trial, but all of Stacey’s self defense motions were eventually denied.
Christopher Alan Stacey’s ex-wife, Jessica Nicole Thomas, was also charged with accessory after the fact to first degree premeditated murder and accessory after the fact to attempted first degree premeditated murder for the shooting at her home on Highway 164. Alexis Ileene Shiffner Cain pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to first degree premeditated murder and accessory after the fact to attempted first degree premeditated murder.
Alabama detectives learned that Boutwell had been at his friend’s house in the 5900 block of Highway 164, just east of Highway 97 in Walnut Hill. Deputies responded to find the suspects in the home.
An Escambia County, FL, investigator was contacted by Atmore Police to relay information on the shooting location. He instructed deputies to respond to the home where they found a couch burning in the backyard (photo below). Deputies extinguished the fire. Victim Boutwell later said he was shot on the couch in the living room of the home, which is about nine miles from where the men were found with the truck.
According to the report, an AR-15 was found in one of the bedrooms and a 12-gauge shotgun was found in another bedroom. The report does not specify if either was the murder weapon. A bullet hole was found in an interior wall.
Christopher Alan Stacey was seated on a bucket across the road from the residence watching as investigators processed the crime scene, while his son sat in a wooden chair in front of a neighboring home (both pictured below). Cain and Jessica Thomas were placed in the back of ECSO patrol vehicles as investigators worked.
Florida investigators also responded to the truck at Brushy Creek on Deere Creek Road in Alabama to process that crime scene with Alabama agencies. The straight-line location of the truck was about 1,000 feet north of the Alabama-Florida State line.
Christopher Alan Stacey resided with Thomas at the home on Highway 164. Boutwell told law enforcement that he was shot because of an argument with her ex-husband. The son, Christopher James Logan Stacey, also resided in the home, the report states.
Boutwell, the victim that survived the July 2018 shooting, was killed in a single vehicle wreck on March 13, 2021, on Highway 4A about three miles west of Century. He was pronounced deceased at the scene; there were no passengers in the vehicle. [Read more...]
Pictured below: Christopher Alan Stacey was seated on a bucket across the road from the residence watching as investigators processed the crime scene, while his son James Logan Stacey sat on a wooden chair in front of a neighboring home. Pictured middle below: A deputy questions Jessica Thomas as she sits inside a patrol vehicle in Walnut Hill. Pictured bottom: Investigators say two men were shot inside this home on Highway 164 in Walnut Hill. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Woman Seriously Injured In I-10 Crash With Two Semi Trucks
March 30, 2024
One person was seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash Friday afternoon on I-10.
The crash happened about 4:50 p.m. on I-10 between the Pine Forest and Highway 29 exits.
A tractor-trailer driven by a 68-year old Pensacola man rear-ended a tractor-trailer driven by a 45-year old New York man, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The second truck was pushed forward into a vehicle driven by a 64-year old Milton woman. She was transported to an area hospital as a trauma alert.
Poarch Woman Charged With Bay Minette Murder
March 30, 2024
A Poarch woman has been charged with murder in connection with a fatal stabbing Friday morning in Baldwin county.
Cassandra Marie Malden, 30, was booked into the Baldwin County Jail without bond Friday evening.
The Bay Minette Police Department responded to a Daphne Road residence behind the former Standard Furniture factory about 9:30 a.m. Friday. Upon arrival, they located an adult male dead from an apparent stabbing.
BPD said the suspect was cooperating with investigators. Further details were not released.
Jurey’s Three RBIs Not Enough As Northview Falls To J.U. Blacksher
March 30, 2024
J.U. Blacksher 8, Northview 6
The J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs defeated the Northview Chiefs 8-6 in a Friday afternoon game in Uriah, Alabama.
Starter Grayden Sheffield went two innings for the Chiefs, giving up four hits and five runs, striking out one and walking three. Jase Portwood went for four on the mound in relief, giving up six hits and three runs while striking out two and walking two.
Kalen Jurey went 1-2 with three RBIs for Northview. Portwood was 1-2.
Up next, the Chiefs will host the Jay Royals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Bratt.
Blacksher 7, Northview 5 (JV)
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ice Flyers Miss On Power-Play Chances, Fall 2-1 In Overtime Against Evansville
March 30, 2024
By Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
The Ice Flyers came up empty on nine power-play chances Friday night.
And then lost the game in overtime while on the power play, silencing a crowd of 5,010 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
For a photo gallery, click here.
It was that kind of night, that tough of a loss as the Evansville Thunderbolts exited with a 2-1 victory to begin the Ice Flyers final home weekend of the season on Easter weekend.
“It was very fitting that we lost the game on a power play by a lack of execution, giving up a shorthanded goal. It sums up the night unfortunately,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham.
After Evansville was whistled for its 10th penalty with 53.8 seconds left in regulation play, the Ice Flyers had their chance to win the game. But they were unable to get a good look in that span, then went into overtime with the penalty carrying over.
On a 4-on-3 situation, an Ice Flyers player fell while trying to make a pass. The Thunderbolts’ Matthew Hobbs got the turnover, got free on a breakaway and made a quick deke and wrister past Ice Flyers goaltender Stephen Mundinger for the game winner.
Mundinger had kept the Ice Flyers in the game the entire way, stopping 31 shots, many of them with brilliant glove saves, but the offensive production lacked, and Evansville got the win.
Evansville (23-27, 3 OT losses, 47 points) also won the previous meeting between these teams. They will play again Saturday night for the final time. The Thunderbolts clinched the final playoff spot in eighth place and trail the seventh-place Ice Flyers (24-25, 3 OT losses, 51 points) heading into the final four games of the season for both teams.
The game recap:
FIRST PERIOD
The Ice Flyers had two power play chances and a 13-5 edge in shots, but the period ended scoreless.
With 11:54 left and both teams even-strength, the Ice Flyers briefly reacted to the goal light coming on after a loose puck in a scrum was poked into the net.
But referee Keith Grooms had raised his arm and blown his whistle a second before the puck was pushed into the net to signal play stoppage. The Ice Flyers did not react as if there was a dispute. There was some pushing and shoving among several players, but no penalties issued.
Mundinger made his best save of the period on a clear breakaway chance by coming out and forcing a shot into his chest protecter.
SECOND PERIOD
This began with a flurry of shots, then ended with a flurry of fists.
And a tied game at 1-1.
Evansville had three point blank chances in the first five minutes, two of those by center Grant Spence. All were thwarted by Mundinger.
That lift carried into the game’s first goal when Reggie Millette broke free after a face off and made a perfect feed from the right side to newcomer, Spencer Kennedy, who buried a one timer into the net with 13:50 left in the period.
Kennedy played his first game Friday for the Ice Flyers, after being on four different teams this season, including 19 games for Roanoke and 13 for Peoria in the SPHL.
Spence then tied the game with 8:58 left when burying a rebound off a leg pad save by Mundinger. Brendon Harrogate got free on a 2 on 1 break to force the kick save and Spence had wide open net to finish.
After seeking a fight in the first period, but getting no takers, Kennedy landed several punches to Grayson Valente’s face as the horn sounded to end the second period. It followed a slashing call against the Thunderbirds’ Adam Pilotte.
It took minutes to sort out the infractions. Kennedy was given a five-minute fighting penalty; two minutes to Pilotte and another two minutes to Valente to start the third period.
Evansville tied the game with 8:58 remaining on a rebound shot by
THIRD PERIOD
The Ice Flyers began with a man-advantage for the first 90 seconds in a penalty filled start to this period.
The teams were not at full strength together until less than 10 minutes remained. The Ice Flyers had 12 shots in the period, but none of them with rebound chances to follow. In the period, the teams combined for 25 penalty minutes.
QUOTABLES
Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham:
“We had a lot of passengers (Friday) unfortunately. I didn’t expect it. We had a good week of practice. I tip my hat to Evansville. I thought it was a chance-for-chance, coin flip type of game, but again we should start seeing guys rise to the top as this point in the season.
The power play (woes) are the same thing all year. We just don’t have shooters. We have three of the top assist guys in the league, but we don’t have anyone in the top 15 for goals. We just don’t have guys who want to shoot the puck and when we do shoot the puck we miss the net. It’s been the same thing.
If we could just get our power play to buy into getting pucks and bodies to the net, maybe we could do something with the power play.
On Spencer Kennedy’s Impact: “Obviously he knows his role here, he knows his job. He did a great job his first shift with a big hit, and it got the crowd going, because we didn’t have a good start. That hit kind of got us going. I think we rattled off the next 13 shots.”
WHAT TO GO?
WHO: Evansville Thunderbolts vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
New Byrneville Minor Subdivision Approved; It’s Just Four Lots
March 29, 2024
Escambia County has approved development plans for the “Byrneville Subdivision” on 122 acres near Byrneville Elementary School. It’s the only new development approved in the county during March, and it is just four new parcels.
The plans are much different than most we’ve reported on. The applicant, John Dean of Pensacola, plans to split the 122 acres on two parcels into just the four residential lots — three that would be 20-25 acres each and one at nearly 55 acres.
The plans were approved this week by the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
Dean told NorthEscambia.com that the 55-acre parcel has already been sold; property records show it was purchased by a nearby resident.
Dean said he and his sister are planning to sell the other three parcels.
The minor subdivision fronts both West Highway 4 and Byrneville Road at the Byrneville Elementary school.
The DRC order is valid for two years.
‘This Drug House Is Closed’- ECSO Narcotics Serves Search Warrant, Arrests One
March 29, 2024
One person was arrested on drug charges after deputies raided a home in Escambia County Thursday.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, served a search warrant in the 1400 block of Sturbridge Place. During the search, deputies located 45 grams of Fentanyl, 337 grams of Methamphetamine, 18 grams of MDMA, and two handguns.
Michael Watts was charged with trafficking fentanyl, trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking MDMA, and possession of firearm by a convicted felon.
After the raid, the ECSO left behind a sign in the front yard of the home that stated, “This Drug House Is Closed”.
Sturbridge Place is located south of Nine Mile Road and just east of Stefani Road.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No Foul Play Suspected After Body Discovered Near Mystic Springs Boat Ramp
March 29, 2024
No foul play is suspected after a body was found Saturday, March 23 near the Mystic Springs Boat Launch in the McDavid area.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday afternoon that the death appeared to be a suicide.
The investigation is continuing. Further details have not been released.
The ESCO is also continuing their investigation after a body was discovered Wednesday afternoon in a wooded area on Ascend property in Gonzalez. That death was also preliminarily ruled a suicide. [Read more...]