State
PITIFUL POLICIES
Lottery Secretary Cynthia F. O’Connell is gushing over the record sales of Florida Lottery games, even though the agency has been put to shame by innovations implemented by other states’ lotteries. For example, Florida has no games or tickets that can be purchased over the Internet while many other states introduced online games years ago. Also, the Florida Lottery does little or no business with black-owned companies, even though blacks are prolific players of lottery games which offer unrealistic chances of hitting it big.
Palm Beach County
MOLESTATION CHARGE
When 24-year-old John Austin Kinley was arrested on “lewd and lascivious behavior” charges last week, specifics were slow to come. But now we learn Kinley is accused of engaging in sex with a 14-year-old boy. The allegation came to light when the boy told a teacher about an encounter with Kinley. The two made contact over the Internet, which led to a meeting at Kinley’s apartment, police said. In keeping with state law, the teacher reported the alleged incident to authorities, which led to Kinley’s arrest. The boy said he does not want Kinley prosecuted.
STANDOUT ARRESTED
William T. Dwyer High School knucklehead standout receiver and quarterback Tavares Martin, 18, was arrested on multiple counts of burglary, theft and fraud charges. Martin and others are accused of breaking into a Palm Beach Gardens home, then fleeing after they realized an alarm had been triggered and police were responding. Martin is one of the most highly recruited athletes in the nation, with scholarship offers from Florida State, Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Miami and other Division I colleges. Hopefully he will learn from this. Whew!
HO GUILTY
Jimmy Dac Ho, 51, a former Florida Atlantic University police officer, was found guilty of murdering 29-year-old call girl Sheri Carter in 2011. Ho responded to Carter’s apartment over an ad posted on an Internet site to pay for sex. He wound up handcuffing and shooting her in the head twice. He claimed self-defense but jurors rejected that claim. Book ’em Danno!
DAYCARE ATTACK
Christina Garcia, 24, of Lantana has been charged after allegedly attacking her former friend, 25-year-old Maribel Garcia, no relation, while they dropped their children off at a daycare in Palm Springs. A teacher intervened to stop the fighting and when Maribel got into her car and left, Christina followed and rammed her car from behind, police said. According to police, Christina had accused Maribel of gossiping about her to an ex-boyfriend.
Broward County
ANOTHER KNIFING
Joseph Troutman, 63, has been jailed after allegedly killing his 40-year-old son Tyrone Troutman with a kitchen knife. The Troutmans were known for having a short-fuse temper. The elder Troutman was convicted of attempted murder 25 years ago when he stabbed his wife and Tyrone’s mother more than a dozen times in their Deerfield Beach home during a dispute. It was Tyrone, then 15, who intervened by jumping on his father’s back to stop the attack. The couple was divorced and Joseph Troutman went to prison and eventually relocated to North Lauderdale. He reconciled with Tyrone, who moved in with him, but during an argument April 17, Joseph grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Tyrone multiple times. Tyrone stumbled to a neighbors’ house and told them, “My father stabbed me,” and collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital and died hours later.
GOT ’EM!
Camilla Gonzalez, 29, and Patricia Alcime, 29, both of Lauderhill are president and vice president of Luxury Tax Inc., a tax preparation firm. They were convicted of filing fraudulent tax returns. U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer said they used stolen Social Security numbers and other personal information to file hundreds of false returns totaling more than $2 million. Gonzalez was sentenced to more than eight years in prison and Alcime to more than seven years. Each must pay $1.8 million in restitution and also forfeit $511,801 that is frozen in a SunTrust Bank account.
Miami-Dade County
FIREFIGHTER CHARGED
Miami-Dade firefighter Gabriel Diaz, 38, was arrested after allegedly posting on Twitter pictures of children engaged in sex acts. He is facing multiple counts of child pornography-related charges and has been suspended from his job.
MIAMI MANHUNT
Johan S. Ospina, 19, was walking along Northwest 142nd Street near Northwest Sixth Avenue in North Miami when a man drove up and shot him several times. Ospina was rushed to a hospital, where he died. Police have released a sketch of the suspect, who, they say, was driving a dark gray 2008 Nissan Maxima. He is described as being 5-foot-9 and in his early 20s. Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
SAD MARCH
Residents of Liberty City and surrounding neighborhoods held another street rally to end gun violence. Like other black communities around the nation, the carnage continues. The “no snitch” culture has to be rejected and thug, drug and gang activities reported to police. Charles Jackson was the organizer of the march which took place just after 62-year-old, Linda Ann Grant, a mother of six, and two others, were killed in a drive-by shooting.
Monroe County
ABANDONED BOATS
Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay announced his department will assist in the county’s efforts to get rid of derelict and abandoned boats near the shoreline. County officials say they have spent more than $500,000 in the past three years to remove the vessels. Some question if the problem deserves that amount of resources when the county has more pressing needs. Proponents of the program argue it’s an environmental and safety matter.
A FISHER ARRESTED
Sean Fisher, 36, grandson of famed treasure hunters Mel and Kim Fisher, has been arrested on drug-trafficking charges. He and alleged co-conspirator Isaac Morejon De La Fuente, 24, of Miami were busted in a Key West sting that netted more than 160 oxycodone prescription pills, cocaine and marijuana, police said. The Fisher family said Sean is not involved with any of the family’s businesses.
No Comment