Caught On Camera: Deputies Seek Barn Burglary Suspect
March 26, 2011
Alabama investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in a late Thursday night burglary at a farm near the Alabama/Florida state line.
Surveillance photos show a white male dressed in light-colored pants, a cap and a camouflage pattern shirt or jacket at a barn located off Highway 31 near Florida Highway (CR 8), just east of Atmore.
According to Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department Investigator Bruce Shue, the man made entry into the barn, taking copper and other items about 11:45 p.m. Thursday.
Anyone with information about the crime, or who may be able to identify the man in the photographs, is asked to call the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Department at (251) 368-4779 or (251) 867-0304.
Pictured: These surveillance photos show a man wanted in connected with a burglary at barn near the Alabama/Florida line late Thursday night. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Case Against Ray Samsom Dropped
March 25, 2011
.Prosecutors dropped all charges against former House Speaker Ray Sansom and a political contributor Friday, ending a four-year saga that toppled one of the state’s most powerful figures and prompted renewed calls for increased transparency at the Capitol.
The abrupt decision to abandon the case against Sansom, a Destin Republican who rose to the top House post after the 2008 elections, followed a statement by Circuit Judge Terry Lewis that he didn’t believe prosecutors had made any progress in their attempt to prove a conspiracy by Sansom and political contributor Jay Odom to steal taxpayer money.
That complicated efforts by the prosecution to call former Northwest Florida State College President Bob Richburg, who had already struck a plea deal with the state, as a co-conspirator. Without him, the prosecution would have trouble moving forward.
The case stemmed from a 2007 appropriation that was supposed to be for an emergency operations center in Sansom’s district. But Prosecutor Willie Meggs argued that it was really a thinly-disguised effort to build a taxpayer-funded hangar for Odom.
Speaking to reporters after Meggs’ decision was announced, Sansom thanked God and also said he was grateful for his family and attorneys for standing by him.
“Christ has been very faithful to me and my family,” Sansom said. “He’s carried us through these last two years. … The truth mattered and the judge saw it.”
While he said he wasn’t bitter, Sansom slammed Meggs and the St. Petersburg Times, which first raised questions about the facility, for their part in the scandal that led to Sansom’s resignation from the speakership before the 2009 regular session. Weeks later, Meggs indicted him.
“I hope that Mr. Meggs understands what he does to families when he does this,” Sansom said.
Meggs shied away from commenting about what the case says about the political process or how the Legislature goes about crafting the annual state spending plan.
“There’s a lot I could say,” Meggs said. “I don’t know that I gain a whole lot, especially in budget times.”
But Meggs also quickly swatted away a question about whether he agreed there was no wrongdoing in the case.
“Oh, no, no,” he said. “I agree that the state was not able to carry its burden of establishing a conspiracy.”
As part of an agreement with Meggs to drop the prosecution, Sansom and Odom agreed to pay $103,000 each in restitution to the college to help cover $310,000 the school spent on the facility before being asked to return to the state $6 million appropriated for the building.
Richburg, whose plea deal will also be dropped, will also pay his share of the money, Meggs said.
But Sansom attorney Stephen Dobson was adamant that the payment was not an admission of guilt on Sansom’s part.
“Ray Sansom is absolutely innocent, he was and I knew that from the day he walked in and we talked about this case,” Dobson said.
At the Capitol, where Sansom was once a rising star in the dominant Republican Party, the fallout was not certain. Former Gov. Charlie Crist said earlier this week that he would have vetoed the facility if he had known its true purpose, and called the budget item “wholly inappropriate.” Legislative leaders have taken pains since Sansom’s indictment to argue that they are making the budget process more transparent.
After Friday’s decision, Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith argued that the case showed the need for strengthening the state’s ethics laws.
“While the facts of the case clearly showed the actions of Sansom and others were wrong and unethical, perhaps the most serious thing the Sansom case showed is that Florida’s prosecutors don’t have the legal tools necessary to crack down on such corruption,” Smith said.
For his part, Sansom said he wouldn’t have done anything differently when it came to the relatively small slice of the state budget that cost him the speaker’s gavel, his seat in the Legislature and a $110,000-a-year job at the college. He argued that the project is still needed.
“My concern is that in the future, that someone’s going to get really hurt because that building’s not there,” he said.
And Sansom did not rule out a return to the political arena.
“You know what?” he said. “I’m not concerned about any political future. …. My future’s in God’s hands and I will follow His lead.”
By Brandon Larrabee
The News Service of Florida
Internal Investigation: Tate Sexual Assault Case Was Handled Properly
March 25, 2011
An internal probe by the Escambia County School District says school officials acted properly and timely when reporting an alleged March 1 sexual assault at Tate High School.
According to a memo released by Superintendent Malcolm Thomas, the internal investigation concluded:
- School officials did report the incident to law enforcement in an appropriate and timely manner.
- Law enforcement received the full cooperation of school officials.
- There is a need for additional training for school district personnel in the areas of evidence collection and statutes pertaining to age of students involved in special victim criminal offenses.
Raymond Eugene Teamer, 16, is charged with exposing himself and sexually assaulting a 14-year old student in a classroom of students about 11:30 a.m. on March 1. Teamer remains in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice awaiting trail on April 13. The teacher, Pam Saxton, told investigators that she did not see what happened in her reading classroom.
The report by John Dobbs, the school district’s investigator, found that the incident was reported the morning of March 2 to the Tate school resource officer (SRO), a deputy with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office assigned to campus. Sheriff David Morgan, speaking to NorthEscambia.com and other media outlets, has contended that the Sheriff’s Office was not notified of the incident until March 4 — three days later.
Dobbs initiated his investigator March 17 at the request of Thomas. The investigation found that:
- Tate High officials did not delay notification to law enforcement, reporting the incident to the SRO on duty on early on March 2. “The SRO indicated he would collect available investigative data and file his report upon his return to the Tate campus on Friday.”
- The SRO filed his report on March 4, using the investigative results of the school district.
- No district policies or laws were broken regarding the reporting of the incident.
- Tate High School has two SRO. One, Officer Small, was assigned patrol road duty the school day of March 3 before returning to school and filing the report on March 4. Officer Singletary was on patrol road duty on March 2.
- Officer Small “was counseled for inadequate documentation in the report filed with ECSO. All information used in the preparation of this ECSO report was drawn from the District
investigation documentation and comprised all available information related to the incident at the time of the ECSO report”. - “The communication and cooperation between the SRO and Tate was superb after the discovery of the incident and identification of involved parties.”
- During the incident, the teacher was “involved in the direct instruction of three groups of students”. There were 20 students in the class, one group at the teacher’s table undergoing direct instruction, a second group using computer-based instruction, and a third in independent reading instruction. The report states the incident occurred among the students using computers while the teacher was instructing another group of students.
- “It is reasonable to believe the teacher’s view of the unlawful incident could be unintentionally and partially obscured by seated students under direct instruction,” the report states.
- “There is no indication the teacher had any knowledge of this incident, or that students intentionally blocked the teacher’s view at this time. The lack of immediate notification by any student of the incident to the teacher leads to a reasonable belief that knowledge of the incident was intentionally withheld from the teacher and later the investigating Tate staff member.”
- During the first investigation by Tate High School Staff, all students interviewed denied observing or participating in any inappropriate or unlawful behavior. After additional
information was received by Tate officials and a second series of interviews was conducted by Tate Staff, the students who were involved or adjacent to the incident indicated the incident did occur. There is no indication that all students in the class had knowledge and withheld that information, however, several students intentionally withheld information during the first investigation. - “There is no indication at this time that any district employee violated any policy, procedure or law in the immediate response by Tate High School Staff to this unlawful incident.”
To read the complete memo and report, click here.
Photos: Ernest Ward Places In Season Opening Track Meet
March 25, 2011
The Ernest Ward Middle School boys place third while the EWMS girls place fourth in their season opening track meet held Thursday afternoon at Woodham Middle School in Pensacola.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured : Members of the Ernest Ward Middle School track team compete Thursday afternoon at Woodham Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Morgan Will End Greetings For Prospective Jurors After Disagreement With Federal Judges
March 25, 2011
Escambia Sheriff’s David Morgan will no longer greet jurors as they head to service in state or federal court.
“There is no honor in this acquiescence,” Morgan wrote in a letter to Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson. “Yet what can be only described as an impending media circus must be avoided. I cannot and will not be a player to a diminution or denigration of the judicial process.”
To read Morgan’s complete letter, click here.
Vinson and two other federal judges questioned Morgan’s practice of greeting potential jurors in a parking lot near the Pensacola Civic Center. Prospective jurors are transported by trolley from the parking area to the courthouse. Morgan would personally greet the jurors, often handing them his business card — a practice that he began in January 2007 during his campaign and continued into office.
Good Morning, I’m Sheriff David Morgan. I attempt to get down here on as many Monday’s as possible to thank you for answering the jury summons. I know that this is a disruption of your business or personal day, but you are an integral part of the judicial process. Thank you for your service,” Morgan said this is the typical statement he makes to potential jurors.
On Wednesday, attorney Michelle Hendrix filed a motion for a court order seeking to keep the sheriff away from the potential jurors in the case of her client, Billings murder suspect Donnie Stallworth.
In a March 17 letter, Morgan said greeting the jurors was his First Amendment right of freedom of speech. “Although an elected official, I retain the First Amendment protection of my rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association. I consider the greeting of jurors an exercise of these rights and a function of Sheriff of Escambia County and the Executive Officer of the Court.” To read the March 17 letter, click here.
“I submit that the likelihood that my greeting creates any ‘bias’ in a prospective juror is infinitesimal,” Morgan wrote in a letter to U.S. Judge Casey Rodgers.
“Your interactions with these prospective jurors raise legitimate concerns about the court’s ability to seat fair and impartial juries, especially when considering that the majority of those selected will serve on criminal juries,” Judge Rogers wrote in a March 3 letter to Morgan requesting that he cease meeting with the prospective jurors. “Even if no actual
bias results, the court nonetheless is concerned that your practice at a minimum gives the appearance of bias, which in our view seriously undermines the public’s confidence in the fair administration of justice.”
In the March 24 letter in which Morgan said he would cease to meet with prospective jurors, he stated, “…a simple ‘thank you for your service’ in answering a jury summons and becoming a part of the judicial process (by a sheriff) is painted to be an insidious assault and an attempt to skew the outcome of a trial(s). This is contorted logic at best. And at worst, this acceptance is yet but one more step down the rungs of our societal ladder of decency and civility. I find it despicable.”
Northview Lady Chiefs Take Two From Jay
March 25, 2011
The Northview Lady Chiefs took two from Jay Thursday afternoon.
In varsity action, Northview beat the Jay Lady Royals 6-4.
Shawna Montgomery was 2-3 with double for the Chiefs, Ashley Digmon was 3-4, Sarah Killam was 2-4, and Emily Vickery went 1-3 with a double. Misty Doran pitched seven for the Chiefs, striking out six.
Camille Driver was 1-2 for the Lady Royals, and Ashley Stokes went 1-3.
In JV action, Northview downed Jay 4-3.
The Lady Chiefs will be in action again Friday with a road trip to Ponce de Leon for a 5 p.m. varsity matchup.
Escambia Man Gets 13 Years For DUI Manslaughter
March 25, 2011
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced Thursday that Robert Koroly was sentenced by Judge Michael Allen to 13.25 years in state prison followed by 6.75 years probation.
On January 25, 2011, Koroly pled to one count of DUI manslaughter and one count of DUI causing serious bodily injury before Judge Michael Allen.
On May 1, 2010, Koroly was driving the wrong way on I-110 just south of Fairfield Drive when he crashed into Johnny Robinson’s car, killing Robinson. Clarence Jordan was also injured in the crash. Koroly’s blood alcohol level was .16.
Scott Signs Teacher Merit Pay In Law
March 25, 2011
Gov. Rick Scott signed the teacher merit pay bill on Thursday in Jacksonville, his first signed legislation since becoming Governor, tying teacher salaries to test scores and ending multi-year contracts.
“We must recruit and retain the best people to make sure every classroom in Florida has a highly effective teacher,” Scott said.
Under the measure, current teachers are also exempted from the new salary requirements and elimination of tenure. New teachers hired after July 2011 are put under one-year contracts and after July 2014, new teachers will be paid under the new merit pay system.
For new teachers, school districts would be required to set up an evaluation system that uses test scores for 50 percent of a teacher’s ranking and a “value-added” formula for the rest.
“This bill reduces a school district’s flexibility and authority over teacher evaluations, pay schedules and working conditions,” said Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association. “It’s not good for students, it’s not good for teachers and it’s not grounded in sound research.”
This is the second year the Legislature has attempted to pass a merit pay bill, with former Gov. Charlie Crist vetoing the bill last year after teacher protests. This year, the response from teachers was muted and Scott indicated early on his support for tying teacher pay to test scores.
Cottage Hill Residents Clean Up Community
March 25, 2011
Cottage Hill had become a community where neighbors did not know one another and where fear sometimes gripped residents that would not venture outside at night.
“There were elderly people in the neighborhood that if they left something in their car, they would not walk outside their home at night to get it because of fear. They would just wait until the next morning,” said Marsha Ryland.
“That’s not the way we wanted our neighborhood,” Ryland said. So she went to work on the evils that lurked in Cottage Hill, starting with meth after her neighbor’s house burned to the ground from a meth lab gone bad. They organized for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to present a community program on meth. That eventually led Ryland, her daughter Amanda and Carlyn Vickery to work with their neighbors to form the Cottage Hill Neighborhood Watch.
The group was part of about 100 volunteers, law enforcement officers and county employees that teamed up Thursday morning to clean up a for Operation Clean Sweep to rid the neighborhood of crime, criminals and trash.
During the operation, 38 tons of trash was collected — some by volunteers from the Marines, 36 tickets were issued for traffic violations, five people were arrested on outstanding warrants and Escambia County Code Enforcement opened 26 cases on violations.
“From Jim Allen Elementary to McKenzie Road, we are taking back out streets,” Ryland said. “This was jut the beginning today. It’s our job to make sure it stays cleaned up.”
“This is the first time I can remember since the late 1950’s that the whole community has pulled together and gotten involved,” Vickery said.
“People have really started to know their neighbors and look out for one another,” Ryland said. “It’s made a huge difference.”
For a photo gallery from the Operation Clean Up Thursday in Cottage Hill, click here.
Residents in the area had been encouraged to pile trash and debris from the homes and yards alongside the road for pickup. And they did. Pile and pile of trash — furniture, couches, tires, boats (about a half dozen boats) and more lined the streets waiting for collection. The Marines walked the area, accompanied by deputies on horseback, picking up smaller litter.
Escambia deputies stood next to Highway 95A with radar guns, directing those over the speed limit off the highway for a ticket. The Sheriff’s Office tactical (TAC) unit moved about the neighborhood with parole and probation officers with outstanding arrest warrants in hand.
Pictured above and below: Scenes from Operation Clean Sweep Thursday morning in Cottage Hill. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Crabtree Church Road Bridge Closed
March 25, 2011
The bridge over Alligator Creek on Crabtree Church Road in Molino has been closed for emergency repairs.
Advance decay was found in a support piling during a routine inspection Thursday, according to Sonya Daniel, Escambia County public information manager. The bridge was closed late Thursday afternoon and is expected to remain closed through Friday, April 8.
The bridge on Crabtree Church Road is about halfway between Sunshine Hill Road and Highway 99. The recommended east/west detour is Molino Road between Highway 99 and Sunshine Hill Road.