Palm Beach County
DISMISSAL SOUGHT
Attorneys for polo mogul John Goodman filed a 49-page motion seeking the dismissal of DUI manslaughter charges against him. Goodman was behind the wheel of his Bentley Continental when it slammed into the car of 23-year-old Scott Wilson, killing him.
Goodman was convicted in his first trial and sentenced to 16 years in prison but the conviction was overturned on grounds of juror misconduct and other issues and a new trial has been scheduled. When Goodman’s attorneys went to examine Bentley’s computer data, they discovered police had released the car to the insurance company. Wilson’s Hyundai has also been released and has not been located. The Bentley was discovered in Texas after being sold for parts but the computers, which are among the most critical pieces of evidence, are gone. Goodman’s attorneys argue that, without that evidence, it is impossible for Goodman to get a fair trial. This is a major screw up.
FREE RECORDS
Florida Atlantic University is holding its annual vinyl records give away this month. The university’s Recorded Sound Archives preserves and digitizes vinyl records and then gives the old vinyl records, eight-track and cassettes tapes to the public. The music spans decades and includes every genre. Wonder if they have any Slim Whitman records?
FRAUD ARRESTS
Robert Allen Tribble Jr., 50, and his ex-wife, Mary Revoller-Chavez, 49, have been charged in a massive mortgage fraud scheme that authorities say was based in Jupiter and operated in several South Florida counties, including Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Martin. They are accused of filing forged documents with county recording agencies indicating they had purchased 35 properties. In fact, they were foreclosed properties that had been repossessed by banks. The couple rented or leased out 27 of them and collected thousands of dollars in down payments for sale of others, taking in $240,000 during a 9-month period in 2013, authorities said.
Broward County
BOOKED!
James Michael Lyon, 59, of Plantation, remains in a federal lockup after being detained on possession of child pornography charges. Federal agents said they acted on a tip and traced Internet activity to computers Lyon used at home and the business where he works. They said they found hundreds of pictures and videos of toddlers and children being molested by adults. Lyon has admitted possessing the materials. Book’em Danno!
NEW LEADERSHIP
Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Frank Adderley has been installed as president of the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association. Chief David Golt of Broward Schools Police is vice president, Wilton Manors Police Chief Paul O’Connell is secretary, Hallandale Police Chief Dwayne Flournoy is treasurer and Hillsboro Police Chief Tom Nagy is sergeant-at-arms. Congratulations.
AUCTION SET
Boca Raton-based 1st United Bank is set to auction off the Southwest Ranches home of former All-Pro NFL linebacker Joey Porter, who played for the Miami Dolphins, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. The bank won a $2.7 million foreclosure judgment against Porter over the 10,600-square-foot home that was built in 2006.
SISTRUNK SUBSTATION
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is set to open a substation on historic Sistrunk Boulevard in the predominantly black northwest section of the city. Unlike in years past, residents there are welcoming the announcement. The station will be located just east of Mizell-Kurtz Funeral Home in the 1200 block of the boulevard.
Miami-Dade County
CLUB CLOSED
Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy L. Morales has suspended the license of the Club Madonna strip club. The move came amid an uproar about the human trafficking arrests of Marlene San Vicente, Dwayne Ward and Vilbert Jean, who are accused of having a 13-year-old girl strip at the club. Club Madonna will remain shuttered while the investigation is continuing.
SUSPECT ARRESTED
Louis Kenson Avril, 26, of North Miami has been charged in the shooting death of Wilson Alexis, 21, on Jan 5. Alexis was trying to stop a fight that broke out at a 5-year-old boy’s baptism party. The party announcement was posted on social media and far more people showed up than expected and there was not enough food, which led to fights. Avril is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree attempted premeditated murder and reckless discharge of a firearm. The investigation continues. Police are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 305-471-8477.
MISCONDUCT CHARGE
Miami-Dade Corrections Officer Lavar Lewis, 27, is charged in connection with an ongoing investigation into cell phones and other contraband being smuggled to inmates in Miami-Dade County jails. Authorities say Lewis, known as the “Love Doctor,” by inmates, smuggled drugs and cell phones to violent inmates. One is Benson Cadet, a reputed member of the Terrorist Boys gang whose members are facing trial in dozens of murders and other shootings.
Monroe County
KEYS QUAKE
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Cuba and tremors could be felt throughout some areas South Florida, particularly in the Keys. The last time a quake was felt in the Keys was in 1880, when two struck Cuba. There were no reports of injuries but out of safety concerns some buildings are being inspected for damage, since structures in South Florida are not designed to withstand earthquakes or even tremors. The earthquake, last Thursday, was the sixth known quake between 3.0 and 5.6 magnitude recorded within 125 miles of the Keys in the past 75 years, according to U.S. Geological Survey.
MOLESTATION ARREST
Christian Lopez, 21, of Big Coppitt Key is charged with molesting a 7-year-old girl left in his care. The alleged incident came to light when the toddler told family members about the abuse, which, investigators say, was ‘ongoing.’ Lopez confessed to molesting the child “on multiple occasions,” authorities say.
BREAK-INS
Like other South Florida communities, Key West experiences an alarming number of burglaries and Key West Police Chief Donie Lee has vowed a crackdown. The exact numbers have not been compiled, in part due to the continuing incidents of residential break-ins, but Lee said one community alone had 40 since September.
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