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General Criminal Defense
- Intervenor in Tampa Fight is Killed
Apr 26, 2011Tampa police report that earlier this month a tragic incident in a Carver City neightborhood resulted in the death of a 24 year old woman, Sabrina Broxton. Broxton was on her way to the market to shop for a barbeque planned for the next day. She was with her boyfriend, Jermaine Buie. King and Buie started arguing and Broxton jumped in to break up the fight.
King hit Broxton and “she went after him”, described Broxton’s best friend Crystal Archie, an apparent eye witness. Antonio King fired a 9 mm pistol at Broxton and said “You got something to say now?” before filing bullets into her head and thigh. King was arrested and changed with first-degree murder. – 1 – 10
- Love Triange Killer Sentenced to Life in Prison
Mar 01, 2011Venecia DePaula, 32 years old, was sentenced to life in prison last week after a jury trial. There was no question that DePaula shot from the 9mm that killed the father of her unborn child and man she loved. The main issue at trial was her state of mind at the time and whether she had a premeditated plan to kill Felipe Perez, 29 years old.
Perez and DePaula shared an apartment together to save money. They had been together for several years and she was six months pregnant with DePaula’s baby. However, DePaula did not consider them to be a couple. He had a new girlfriend but texts between Perez and DePaula indicated there was unresolved drama remaining.
DePaula purchased two guns and killed Perez several hours after she bought the second one. Her attorney, Bryant Camareno, stated that DePaula bought the gun to kill herself and that she was depressed. Because DePaula chose not to take the stand, the jury did not hear this information. Also, Perez’s wife, Jadie Serra says that Perez said DePaula told him over and over prior to the murder that DePaula was going to kill him but Serra’s testimony in this regard was not allowed into evidence.
The jury found DePaula guilty of first degree murder and Circuit Judge Emmett Lamar Battles sentenced DePaula to life in prison. – 2 – 10
- Tampa Mom Killed Kids Denied Bond
Jan 31, 2011Julie Powers Schenecker finally made her first court appearance since her arrest for the murder of her two children. Mrs. Schenecker was released from Tampa General Hospital and transported to the Hillsborough County Jail for booking. After being booked into the Hillsboorugh County Jail Mrs. Schenecker appeared before Judge Walter Heinrich. Judge Heinrich denied bond to Mrs. Schenecker. Mrs. Schenecker will remain in custody until her Tampa criminal charges are completely resolved.
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- Incorrect Court Order Leads to False Injunction Violation Arrest
Dec 28, 2010Jesse C. Almond had been arrested multiple times over the past year for violating a court order which required him to have no contact with Sandra Bogden. The court order, known as an injunction, was enforced like any other injunction. A violation of the injunction was followed by an arrest. After the arrest the case was sent to the Pinellas County Office of the State Attorney for prosecution. This is no normal case though. The judge denied the injunction request after a hearing but somehow a signed court order granting the injunction made its way into the court file. Mr. Almond’s arrests were made because of a court system failure. The entire system is under review to determine what could have been done to avoid these wrongful arrests. – 4 – 10
- St. Pete Police Request Public’s Help in Locating Murderer of Teen
Sep 27, 2010St. Petersburg police request that the public report any information that may be helpful in identifying the individual who shot and killed Latedra Everett, a St. Petersburg teen, on Saturday night. Everett was 18 years old. The bullet struck her in the head and she died at Bayfront Medical Center. Presently, the firearm that was used to fire the shot and the motive are unknown. Investigators are trying to track down witnesses or anyone who might have knowledge about Everett’s death.
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- Sting Leads to Arrest of 10 Johns, 1 Prostitute
Sep 10, 2010Tampa police arrested 10 men on Wednesday, as the result of a sting operation where a female police officer went undercover as a prostitute. A Seminole Heights resident complained of the prostitution problem in the area and law enforcement responded by initiating a sting. The following ten men were arrested on Nebraska Avenue: Wesley Rork, 52, Daniel Vasquez, 38, Willie Bedford, 52, Evan Martin, 48, Isreal Gonzalez Alcantara, 24, Bruce Carpenter, 52, Arthur Brown, 47, Rood-Ley Germain, 27, John Jeune, 22, and Damon Johnson, 24. A female, Jayne McDonald Holler, 47, was also arrested on prostitution charges. Tampa law enforcement intend to conduct more similar sting operations. – 6 – 10
- Wade Gets 27 Years for Teen Love Triangle Killing
Sep 03, 2010Today, 20 year old Rachel Wade was sentenced to 27 years in prison for stabbing to death another teen girl who was seeing her boyfriend. Wade was convicted of second-degree murder after a jury trial last month. The sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder dictate the range for sentencing to be from 20 years to life. Wade was convicted of killing Sarah Ludemann, 18 years old, by stabbing her in the heart on April 15, 2009.
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- Brothers Arrested in Clearwater Road Rage Shooting
Jul 14, 2010Two brothers from Clearwater Florida were arrested for charges related to a road rage shooting. Adrian Precaj, 24, shot a man after an argument at a gas station in Largo and was charged with attempted murder. The arrest report states the brothers followed the man, cut him off, then Adrian got out of his vehicle and shot at the man’s car door, while the man remained in his vehicle, numerous times. His younger brother, Domeniko Precaj, 18, chased the shot man and drove Adrian away after the incident. Accordingly, Domeniko was charged with being a principal to the attempted murder. – 8 – 10
- Charges brought against fourth suspect in Tampa FL manslaughter case
May 10, 2010Tampa police announced today that Ulysses A. Grant is the fourth suspect in a case of James Toney’s death. Toney, 56, was found dead in a trash bin at 1947 W. Main St. While the autopsy has not been completed on the body, investigators have confirmed that a beating contributed to the death.
Three other men have been arrested as suspects in Toney’s death on manslaughter charges in late April as well: Jarvis Troupe, 24, Keontrye R. Williams, 23, and Renell M. Little, 17. Williams and Little are being held without bail and Troupe is being held with bail set at $100,000.
Grant was arrested on February 27 on drug charges. He was released the same day with his bail set at $22,500. – 9 – 10
- Human Bones Yet to Lead Authorities Closer to Resolving Tampa Death
Mar 24, 2010Six years after Lisa Ann Mowrey disappeared, her bones were discovered on the side of Interstate 75. However, authorities appear to be no closer to solving the mystery surrounding Mowrey’s death. The police are waiting for a cause of death finding from the Medical Examiner’s Office, which was initially able to identify the body by Mowrey’s dental records.
Mowrey was eighteen years old when she left home to catch a bus to go to class and was never heard from again. At the time she disappeared, Mowrey had been staying with a high school teacher, Dawn White, after graduation due to family issues. The teacher persuaded her not to run away from home and instead, come live with her.
The police had previously been called to the Mowrey family business because of a domestic incident where Mowrey was the reported victim and her father was the alleged abuser. The case was later dropped due to lack of proof and no one was ever arrested.
Mowrey was the oldest of her siblings, played volleyball, and wanted to be a veterinarian. White observed Mowrey acting strangely prior to her disappearance, crying often and acting skittish. White later learned Mowrey suffered from bipolar disorder and depression. – 10 – 10
