Sheriff Candidate Pleads Not Guilty To Campaign Finance Charge
August 4, 2012
ARCHIVED STORY — Aug. 4, 2012
A candidate for Escambia County Sheriff pleaded not guilty Friday to a campaign finance charge against him.
John Russell Powell was indicted Monday on one misdemeanor charge related to accepting cash contributions in excess of $50. State law limits cash contributions to $50 per person.
The case against Powell will not be resolved before the August 14 Republican Primary in which he will face incumbent David Morgan. He is not due back in court for trial until late September.
Powell came under scrutiny by the grand jury due to a letter from incumbent Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan to the State Attorney’s Office. Morgan said he was acting as a law enforcement officer, not as a candidate, in writing the letter.
Morgan claimed over 30 instances in which Powell accepted over 30 contributions over the $50 limit, but Powell was indicted on just one court.
Powell said the excess campaign contributions were refunded, and there was no criminal intent — just an honest mistake.
“My opponent, to take the focus off the issues, has chosen to make a criminal complaint with the State Attorney’s Office to cause embarrassment to me and my supporters even though he
admittedly accepted more than $50 in cash contributions from a number of people. I chose not to tile a criminal complaint regarding his campaign because these actions are better addressed in the civil arena not in the criminal courts,” he said in a press release hours after after his arrest on July 30.
Early Voting Underway In Escambia County
August 4, 2012
Early voting is now underway in Escambia County.
Four voting sites are available:
- Supervisor of Elections Annex — 292 Muscogee Road, Cantonment
- Supervisor of Elections Main Office — 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor
- Tryon Branch Library — 1200 Langley Avenue
- Southwest Branch Library — 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
Early voting will be available through Saturday, August 11 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Early voters cast paper ballots through our digital scanners, and may choose any one of the four sites. All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, are eligible to vote in certain contests on the Primary ballot.
Another option for voters is to cast an absentee ballot, which can be requested through the online form at EscambiaVotes.com, or by contacting the Supervisor of Elections by mail, phone (850-595-3900), e-mail (absentee@escambiavotes.com), or fax (850-595-3914). Requests must include the voter’s date of birth and address, and must be received no later than Wednesday, August 8. Voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day and may not be returned to a polling location on Election Day. Absentee voters may now follow the status of their ballot at EscambiaVotes.com.
The third option for voters is to cast a paper ballot at their precinct on Election Day using digital scanners. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. An AutoMARK ballot marking device is also available at each polling place and early voting site to assist persons with disabilities.
All eligible voters in Escambia County are being mailed a sample ballot. In addition, a sample ballot and polling precinct finder be viewed at EscambiaVotes.com.
Voters are reminded to bring their photo and signature ID with them to the polls, and are encouraged to visit EscambiaVotes.com for complete voting information.
Wreck Near Atmore Claims Life
August 4, 2012
At least one person was reportedly killed in a wreck north of Atmore Friday night.
The near head-on collision happened before 11 p.m. on Highway 21 near Fountain Prison. One person was also airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola by LifeFlight.
The accident is under investigation by Alabama State Troopers. Further details have not yet been released.
Perdido Gators Eliminated From World Series
August 4, 2012
The Perdido Gators were eliminated Friday from the USSSA World Series 14U in Orlando.
Area girls from Northview, Tate, West Florida, Escambia, Pace, and Gulf Breeze high schools make up the Perdido Gators softball team.
On Friday, the Gators lost to Texas Turn 5-3. Lauren Brennan went 3-4 and scored one run for Perdido. Texas Turn took the lead in the fifth, scoring three runs on three errors.
On Thursday, The Perdido Gators beat Cheetahs Gold 3-0. Mallory Ryan pitched seven, allowing no earned runs on three hits. Olivia Printiss was 3-3 at the plate for the Gators with singles, including a single in the fourth to bring home Lauren Brennan.
Members of the Perdido Gators are Ashley Young, Kota Berry, Sara Spears, Kristin Gunter, Morgan Peppers, Lauren Brennan, Angel Lathan, Olivia Printiss, Sydney Ezelle, Ali Cutaio and Mallory Ryan. Coaches are Tracey Ezelle, Greg Spears, Eddie Ryan, and Jeff Cutaio.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Dies After Being Shot In Escambia County
August 4, 2012
One person has died after being critically injured in a shooting Friday night in Brownsville.
A man in his 60’s was transported to Baptist Hospital by ambulance with critical injuries after being shot just after 9:30 p.m. on West Brainerd Street. He passed away a short time later.
The victim’s name has not yet been released.
The gunman was reportedly last seen in a black truck. No other details have been released, and there have been no arrests reported.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
U.S. Marshals, TAC Unit Bust Alabama Child Porn, Rape Suspect
August 4, 2012
An Alabama man wanted on rape and child porn charges was arrested Friday by U.S. Marshals and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office TAC unit.
Dion Demetrius Taylor was arrested for failure to appear on charges of second degree rape and possession of pornographic material of a minor.
U.S. Marshals observed Taylor, 33, drive away from a home on Sioux Trail in Escambia County with an unidentified woman and three children. Because Taylor has an extensive history of violence, Marshals said they were apprehensive to stop Taylor for fear of the safe of the woman and children.
The Task Force called for aid from the Sheriff’s Office while they followed Taylor into the Sunrise Apartment complex on Fairfield Drive. Task Force officers and ECSO units including a K-9 surrounded Taylor who quickly surrendered.
Taylor’s alleged crimes occurred in Tuscaloosa. Authorities said he lured a 15-year female into a residence by promising her marijuana. He then allegedly raped her and recorded the act on a cell phone. He then allegedly recorded other men doing the same to the teen.
Taylor was booked into the Escambia County Jail without bond as a fugitive from justice as he awaits extradition back to Alabama. He was also charged with resisting arrest without violence for allegedly providing the wrong name to officers.
Justice Dept: High School To Stop Racial Preferences In Selecting Homecoming Courts
August 4, 2012
The U.S. Justice Department has reached an out-of-court agreement with the Escambia County School District in Alabama to end the use of race-based selection criteria for homecoming courts and other student activities in two of the district’s high schools.
Escambia County High School in Atmore permitted students to elect two homecoming queens and two homecoming attendants from each class, one African-American and one not. Another school, W.S. Neal High School, had a similar longstanding practice of using race-based criteria for election of students to its Valentine’s Day courts.
To resolve the U.S. Justice Department’s concerns over these practices, the Escambia County (Ala.) Board of Education voluntarily adopted a district-wide non-discrimination policy for extracurricular activities. The policy will end the use of race-based election and selection criteria in all student activities. The agreement requires the district to fully implement and enforce its new non-discrimination policy, to notify parents and students of changes to student election practices and to provide compliance reports to the department for at least one year.
“This Board policy may change certain past practices or procedures relating to the election or selection of students to extracurricular positions,” Superintendent Randall Little said in memorandum to parents.
“We commend the Escambia County Board of Education for acting swiftly to abolish the use of race in student activities and to ensure that no student is denied participation in any extracurricular activity based on race,” Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez said. “It is time for the once common practice of segregating students by race in school activities to come to an end.”
The use of race-based selection and election criteria in public schools’ extracurricular activities, including homecoming courts, proms and similar activities is prohibited by Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars public school districts, colleges and universities from discriminating against students on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and religion.
Pictured: Escambia County High School Freshmen Maids during the school’s homecoming parade last October. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
New $9 Million Southwest Sports Complex Opens In Escambia County
August 4, 2012
A ribbon cutting was held Friday for a new $9 million sports complex in Escambia County.
The Southwest Escambia Sports Complex at 20020 Bauer Road was officially opened with a short ceremony and a fish fry.
The sports complex sits on approximately 200 acres and with lighted baseball, softball, soccer and football fields, an open play area, walking trails, playground, covered pavilions and ample parking.
“This facility is a huge asset to Escambia County and I’m looking forward to seeing it filled with action,” Wilson Robertson, District 1 commissioner said.
The new facility was funded with Local Option Sales Tax monies. Like all county sports parks, routine upkeep will be the responsibility of the two youth leagues that will use the park.
Search Underway For Escaped Alabama Prison Inmate
August 4, 2012
Officials are looking for an Alabama prison escapee that was serving a life sentence.
Shaun Tyler Miller was reported missing Friday afternoon from his job site in Wetumpka, Ala., just north of Montgomery. He is described as a black male, 5-feet, 10-inches tall, 182 pounds with black hair.
He received a life sentenced for robbery back in 2003 out of Baldwin County.
Anyone with information about Miller’s whereabouts is asked to call their local law enforcement agency or 911.
Wahoos Open Series With Huntsville With 8-5 Win
August 4, 2012
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos earned an 8-5 win over the Huntsville Stars at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Ala. on Friday night to open the five-game set. The Wahoos cranked out 12 hits in the winning effort while shortstop Billy Hamilton inched closer to the Minor League stolen base record with three steals giving him 122 for the season. He is now 23 shy of matching Vince Coleman’s 1983 record.
Pensacola claimed an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the second. David Vidal doubled home Donald Lutz for the game’s first run. Vidal scored later on an RBI groundout by Miguel Rojas. It was one of three runs Vidal scored in the game.
Huntsville answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Adam Weisenburger singled in Hunter Morris, part of a three hit game for Weisenburger.
The Blue Wahoos made it 3-1 in the fourth when Vidal came home on an RBI single by Hamilton. Vidal extended the Wahoos lead to 4-1 with his seventh home run of the season. It was a solo shot to center field.
Heading into the ninth inning, the Wahoos were leading 5-3 searching for insurance runs. Two batters after Ryan LaMarre doubled home Hamilton, Bryson Smith drove in two more with a two-run single, which scored Josh Fellhauer and LaMarre and extended the lead to 8-3.
The Stars added some suspense with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Chris Manno (1) came in out of the bullpen and retired the final two batters of the game to preserve the win for Pensacola. He retired both batters he faced to earn his first save of the season.
On his 23rd birthday, Chad Rogers (1-0) earned the win in his Blue Wahoos debut. He surrendered just one run on seven hits over five innings. Johnnie Lowe (1-2) took the loss for the Stars after giving up four runs, two earned, on six hits over six innings. He fanned seven and walked two.
Offensively, five Blue Wahoos had multi-hit games. Hamilton (2-for-4), Fellhauer (2-for-4), LaMarre (2-for-5), Smith (2-for-2) and Vidal (2-for-4) all had a pair of hits in the winning effort. Smith, a late inning replacement, finished with three RBI while Vidal finished with a pair of RBI.
The series continues from Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville on Saturday. LHP Tony Cingrani (5-3, 2.15) gets the nod for the Fish against RHP Ariel Pena (0-0, 9.00). First pitch is set for 6:43 p.m.
By Tommy Thrall
Photo by Chris Nelson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.