Sign Case Against Former Candidate Greg Brown Dismissed
February 4, 2011
Charges were dismissed Thursday against a former state representative candidate and his wife for allegedly stealing an opponent’s campaign signs.
The charges were dropped by Circuit Court Judge Gary Bergosh against Greg Brown, Jr. and his wife, Jennifer. They were originally offered a pretrial diversion program in which they would be required to complete 50 hours of public service and write a letter of apology to now Rep. Doug Broxson.
Bergosh found that the Broxson signs removed by the Browns were either unlawfully on the land of private property owner or unlawfully on the public right-of-way, giving the Browns the “lawful right to remove the campaign signs of Douglas Broxson”.
Brown issued the following written statement Thursday afternoon: “Today our faith in government was restored. Over the course of the campaign, we learn first-hand the cruel nature of some politicians who will do anything to not only win, but continue to maliciously attack ones character and cause irreversible damage. My wife and I never wavered from the fact that we did nothing wrong. It is clear from the order that either the signs were unlawfully placed on private property, or were illegally placed in the public right of way and considered litter by Santa Rosa County. We appreciate all those that supported us during the campaign and well beyond. We are anxious to move forward with our lives and to be productive members of our community who facing much bigger challenges.”
In July, the Browns were shown on video (watch video below) as they removed campaign signs belonging to opponent Broxson from an intersection near Milton. Greg Brown maintained that the signs were on private property where he had permission to remove them.
Broxson’s campaign used a night vision camera to video the Browns during the incident.
Pictured top: This still frame from a night vision video camera shows Florida House candidate Greg Brown and his wife Jennifer removing an opponent’s campaign signs from Highway 87 near Milton.
Sunny Skies To Return
February 4, 2011
More rain is possible tonight, but sunny skies will return for Saturday and Sunday.
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight: Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Calm wind.
- Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
- Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west.
- Monday: A 20 percent chance of rain before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. Windy, with a west wind between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
- Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 28. West wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.
- Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming east between 5 and 10 mph.
- Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
- Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.
- Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain and thunderst orms. Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a low around 32.
- Thursday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high near 49.
- Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.
- Friday: Sunny, with a high near 49.
Tax Preparer Indicted On Tax, Mortgage Fraud Charges; $68 Million Scheme
February 4, 2011
A former Alabama tax preparer has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 80 counts charging her with conspiracy, preparing and filing false tax returns, mortgage fraud, and wire fraud.
Alice Mobley of Monroeville, Ala., was charged in connection with the filing of false tax returns through her business, Preyear Tax and Check Cashing, LLC, located in Monroeville with offices in Atmore and Thomasville, as well as two other businesses with which Mobley was involved, Kimble and Preyear Tax Service in Greenville, Mississippi and Henry’s Tax Service in Longview, Texas.
Federal agents raided Mobley’s Preyear’s Tax & Check Cashing, LLC on Ridgely Street in Atmore and other locations in March, 2010. Federal court documents show that FBI and IRS agents seized over $300,000, boxes of tax documents, computers, vehicles and even a stuffed teddy bear when they raided the businesses and Mobley’s Monroeville home.
Mobley’s scheme filed tax returns claiming some $68 million in tax refunds, largely for Earned Income Credit and other tax credits, according to the Department of Justice. Mobley would falsely claim various dependent credits, either charged her clients an extra fee for the using the false dependents or pocketing the extra funds herself.
Mobley also “split” dependents, using the identity of some children on one return to obtain Earned Income Credit, and on other returns to obtain Child Credit and Dependent Care Credit. Mobley’s firm also prepared returns which claimed business tax deductions for business which did not exist and farm tax deductions for clients who did not have farms, the DOJ said.
Mobley was also charged with mortgage fraud and wire fraud in connection with fraud in regard to applications she made for mortgages to CitiBank and Wells Fargo.
She faces a maximum of 30 years in prison and fines of $250,000.
Pictured above: A federal agent enters Preyear’s Tax & Check Cashing, LLC in Atmore March 4, 2010. Pictured inset: Agents search a vehicle at the business. Pictured below: A federal agent and Atmore Police officer talk to an employee of the business during the raid. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Jay’s Robin Blackman Signs With Troy State
February 4, 2011
Jay High School’s Robin Blackman signed a track/cross country scholarship with Troy University on Wednesday’s National Signing Day. She also received Troy’s Millennium Scholar’s Award, TSU’s top academic scholarship. The award covers tuition, room and board and is valued at approximately $69,000.
Blackman will become a Trojan in the fall of this year.
Pictured: (front, L-R) Coach and father Stan Blackman , Robin Blackman, Coach Sonya Odom, (back row) Assistant Principal Brad Marcilliat, mother Belinda Blackman, Principal Dale Westmoreland and Athletic Director Lance Youngblood. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man, 75, Picks Up Prostitute, Loses BMW, Cash, Phone
February 4, 2011
A 75-year old Escambia County man told deputies that his car, cash and cell phone were stolen after he fell asleep with a prostitute he had picked up.
Clifton Eugene Mathis told Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies Thursday that he picked up a prostitute he identified as “Tri” at L Street and Lakeview Avenue about 11 p.m. Tuesday.
According to Mathis, he spent some time with the woman and then fell asleep. When he woke, he discovered that $300 in cash, his cell phone and his 1996 BMW had been stolen, according to Deputy Chris Welborn, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office.
The man’s vehicle and cell phone were recovered from a home in the 700 block of Citrus Avenue.
Latoria Shanise Frazier, 31, of Pensacola, who was positively identified by Mathis, was arrested for vehicle theft, grand theft and petit theft. Frazier (pictured) was held at the Escambia County Jail on a $10,500 bond.
Another person located at the residence on Citrus street was arrested on un-related charges. He was identified as Cecil Lindsey III, 25, of Pensacola. He was arrested for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
State To Seek Death Penalty In Two Murder Cases
February 4, 2011
State Attorney Bill Eddins announced Thursday that he plans to seek the death penalty in two different murder cases.
Eddins said the State intends to seek the death penalty against Joshua Wayne Douglas regarding the death of Jamie M. Broxson, and the State intends to seek the death penalty against Robert Lee Hobart for the deaths of Tracie Tolbert and Robert Hamm.
An Escambia County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Joshua Wayne Douglas on December 22, 2010, for the death of Broxson. Broxson’s body was found in the woods on Jernigan Road near Nine Mile Road by Gulf Power employees on November 29, 2010.
She was found with duct tape over her forehead and arm. The autopsy found evidence of sexual assault and the death was the result of asphyxia. Douglas was linked to the crime by DNA work performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
A Santa Rosa County Grand Jury indicted Robert Lee Hobart on two counts of first degree murder with a firearm for the deaths of Tracie Tolbert and Robert Hamm on December 6, 2010.
On September 22,2010, Tracie Tolbert and Robert Hamm were found shot to death in the brush on the opposite sides of Jesse Allen Road near A.D. McCall Road in Allentown.
Pictured top: Joshua Wayne Douglas. Pictured bottom: Robert Lee Hobart.
Time For The Monthly Barrineau Park Music Night
February 4, 2011
There will be plenty of good entertainment on stage tonight in Barrineau Park — and it’s free. The monthly Barrineau Park Music Night will be tonight at the Barrineau Park Community Center. The featured local groups tonight are Joyful Sound and Lock, Stock & Barrel.
The singing starts at 6:30 p.m. Food and refreshments will also be available beginning at 6 p.m.
The event is family-friendly — no alcohol is permitted on the property, and no smoking is allowed in or near the building.
For more information, call (850) 587-5575.
The Barrineau Park Community Center is located on Barrineau Park School road, about three miles west of Molino.
Pictured above: Lock, Stock & Barrel will perform tonight during the monthly Barrineau Park Music Night. Pictured below: Joyful Sound will also perform. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Barry Manilow’s ‘Copacabana, the Musical’ At Tate High
February 4, 2011
There is one more chance remaining to see Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana, the Musical” at Tate High School. The Tate High School Drama Department will present the musical based on the Manilow songs of the 1980’s at 7:00 Saturday night in the school cafetorium.
Tickets are $10 for the reserve section and $7 for general admission.
Morning Fire Strikes Pensacola Apartment Complex
February 4, 2011
At least one person is homeless after an apartment complex fire this morning in Pensacola. The fire was reported just after 7 a.m. in the 2200 block of North Pace Boulevard. One apartment was heavily damaged by fire. There were no injuries reported. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
DCT Students Awarded
February 3, 2011
Several Northview High School DCT students placed in the District 1 CECF Competitions held this week at the University of West of Florida.
Three Northview students took first place in their categories: Wes Chancery, automotive technician; Laneicia Gomez, financial math; and Allyson Bullard, parliamentary procedures. Other NHS students who ranked high in scoring for their competitions were: Bobby Reid, third place, and Kaleb Purvis, sixth place, in automotive technician and Katie Wieborg, fourth place, in customer service.
CECF District 1 is comprised of high schools from Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties. Northview High School students competed with students from Washington, Tate, Pine Forest, Escambia, Gulf Breeze, and Walton high schools.
DCT is affiliated with CECF, Career Education Clubs of Florida, and DCT is an educational class that prepares students for the workforce. DCT students combine their educational classes with on-the-job work experience. Tommy Weaver is the DCT coordinator for Northview High School.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.