Century Town Council President Target Of Extortion Investigation, No Charges Filed
August 15, 2013
A Century Town Council member was the target of a now concluded extortion investigation, but no charges were filed after the State Attorney’s Office determined there was insufficient evidence that any crime had occurred.
According to documents obtained by NorthEscambia.com, a Century husband and wife, Harold and Denise Sanderson, made the extortion allegation on June 7 against Century Town Council President Ann Brooks. Brooks had previously filed a grand theft charge against the Sandersons’ daughter, 36-year old Sabrina Beverly Sanderson, claiming she stole an A/C-heater window unit after being evicted from a rental home owned by Brooks.
Brooks later presented the Sandersons with a letter offering to drop the charges for a $1,000 payment, an apology, and a signed easement allowing the Town of Century to install a gas line across a portion of their property. That letter prompted the extortion investigation after a complaint was filed with the Escambia County Sherrif’s Office.
Brooks told NorthEscambia.com that she felt like the extortion claim was made as “retaliation” or to make her “look bad” and “cause problems”. She denied committing any crime, as the State Attorney’s Office also concluded.
The Eviction And Theft Allegations
In February 2013, Brooks filed a report with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Brooks had just evicted Sabrina Sanderson from her rental home at 811 Hecker Road and reported that her A/C-heater window unit valued at just under $400 had been stolen by Sanderson, along with a range hood. The heating and cooling unit had been sitting uninstalled on the floor of the residence.
Deputies made contact with Sanderson who said she took the unit because the door to the residence would not lock. Sanderson said she was afraid the unit would be stolen, and she would be accused of the crime. She also said she took the heating and cooling unit because Brooks still had her $1,000 deposit and would not return it to her after she moved out of the rental home. She denied stealing the range hood.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seized the A/C-heater unit from Sanderson and returned it to Brooks.
Brooks then advised that she wished to pursue charges against Sabrina Sanderson, who was subsequently arrested for grand theft and released from the Escambia County Jail on a $5,000 bond.
Escambia Building Inspector Cuts Fines Against Brooks
Escambia County provides code enforcement within the town limits of Century under an agreement approved by the Century Town Council.
On December 27, 2012 the Escambia County Building Inspections Department issued a violation notice to Brooks ordering her to “cease and desist” all construction work at her 811 Hecker Road rental property. She was directed to report to the Century Town Hall for a construction review.
An initial fine of $1,000 was set by a building inspector. That fine was later reduced to $100 by the building inspections department supervisor, according to Bill Pearson, Escambia County spokesman. “A notice was sent to Brooks and the fine was quickly paid via check,” he said. She was accessed a $50 fine for unlicensed contracting and an additional $50 fine for unpermitted construction. The building inspector was, according to county records, allowed access to the rental home by Sabrina Sanderson.
Building official Lynn Adams told an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigator that then Building Inspections Director Amru Meah reduced council President Brooks’ fine amount without indicating a reason. Adams told the investigator that fines can be reduced, but it would be “uncommon” for a fine to be reduced from $1,000 to $100.
“I never spoke to him,” Brooks said about Meah’s reduction of her fine. “As far as I knew, he did not know that I am a council member. I thought they reduced the fine because I was cooperative and because I had never had a problem with a violation before.”
The Letter
In a letter dated May 9, 2013, Brooks indicated that she would drop the criminal charges against Sabrina Sanderson for stealing her air conditioner and range hood if three conditions were met: (1) her parents signed a utility easement for a Town of Century gas line (2) a $1,000 payment for damage to the floor in the Hecker Street rental home, and (3) Sabrina Sanderson would make an apology for “taking my property and her spiteful text messages”.
Brooks later said she asked for the utility easement on behalf of the town because she had been informed by Mayor Freddie McCall that the Sandersons had already refused to the sign the easement, inhibiting the forward moving progress of a town gas project.
The Sandersons’ Response
Harold Anderson told deputies that his wife, Denise Sanderson, picked up their daughter from her job at Century Care Center on May 3 and took her to Brooks CPA office on North Century Boulevard. Denise Sanderson then provided Brooks with two $500 checks, for a total of $1,000, as requested in the letter. At that time, they were unable to contact Century Mayor Freddie McCall, but the Sanderson husband and wife agreed to, and subsequently did, sign the town gas easement for their property at 7505 North Century Boulevard.
Harold Sanderson later decided the letter, the $1,000 payment and the signed gas line easement amounted to extortion and filed the criminal complaint. Denise Sanderson stopped payment on the two checks on May 10, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
When the checks did not clear her bank, Brooks called Harold Sanderson and advised she would not be dropping the charges against his daughter, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
Sanderson’s Criminal Charges
The criminal charges against Sabrina Sanderson were dropped on May 30, 2013, according to court records. The State Attorney’s Office said the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence that Sanderson had committed the alleged crime.
State Attorney’s Office Investigation
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office case files regarding the extortion complaint against Brooks were delivered to the State Attorney’s Office on July 1. On July 23, Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille indicated that there would not be sufficient evidence to charge Brooks with a crime, and the case was closed.
Public Records Request
On July 25, two days after the case was closed, the State Attorney’s Office provided NorthEscambia.com with a copy of their documents related to the Brooks case, including her letter offering to drop criminal charges in exchange for the apology, $1,000 and the signed gas easement. The documents were provided in response to a NorthEscambia.com public records request.
As part of our investigation into the claims, NorthEscambia.com also made an official written public records request July 31 to the Town of Century for any documents related to the utility/gas easement between the Town of Century and Harold or Denise Sanderson, with the exception of documents (including the actual easement) on file with the Escambia County Circuit Clerk The request was sent to the Town of Century official email addresses belonging to Mayor Freddie McCall, Town Clerk Leslie Gonzalez and Council President Ann Brooks with a request to reply by August 2.
A few hours later, Gonzalez responded:
“Upon review of the Town’s records I do not find that the Town has any documents that you have requested. Also, upon discussing this matter with Mayor McCall, he does not have any records which you requested.
“The only document the Town has regarding the Sanderson’s easement is the actual Utility Easement.
I have not contacted Ann Brooks with respect to your request; however, I am sure that she will respond to you directly if she has any public records that are within the scope of your request.”
The email response by Gonzalez was also sent to the official town emails of McCall and Brooks.
On the afternoon of Friday, August 2, the requested deadline for the public request, NorthEscambia.com contacted Brooks by phone. She advised that she did not have any documents that would fulfill our request.
The following Monday, August 5, Brooks emailed NorthEscambia.com a copy of her letter offering to drop criminal charges in exchange for the apology, $1,000 and the signed gas easement. In the correspondence sent from her accounting office email account, Brooks wrote:
“I am attaching a personal agreement with the Sanderson’s which I didn’t think was subject to your public records request because it was personal correspondence, but I requested a legal opinion and was just advised that it would probably fall within the purview of your request.”
New Burlington Coat Factory Store Now Hiring
August 15, 2013
[Updated] A new Burlington Coat Factory store opening soon in Pensacola is now hiring with the assistance of Workforce Escarosa.
The off-price apparel and home furnishings retailer is hiring retail associates and supervisors. The positions offer an associate discount, competitive wages and benefits, paid time off and a company-matched 401k.
Interested individuals must first apply online at www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com for positions with the Pensacola store. After completing the online application and assessment, applicants are invited to attend a one-day hiring event on Friday, August 16, between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. inside the Amos Performance Studio on the Pensacola State College Main Campus located at 1000 College Blvd. in Pensacola. Representatives from Burlington Coat Factory will be on-site at the event reviewing applications and conducting interviews.
The new Burlington Coat Factory will be located at University Town Plaza, the site of the former University Mall on Davis Highway. The store is expected to open in October.
Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Chloe Channell Done On ‘America’s Got Talent’; She’s Singing Again Friday At Olive
August 15, 2013
She wowed America and the judges for weeks on American’s Got Talent, but when it came down to the wire Wednesday night, everyone’s favorite 11-year old super-enthusiastic country girl was headed back to Pace.
“Chloe was electric last night on America’s Got Talent,” The Band Perry tweeted about her Tuesday night cover of their hit “Done” live at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.
The Band Perry and America had to wait literally until the final seconds of Wednesday night’s results show to find out if Chloe was done. Chloe and Taylor Williamson, as the fourth and fifth place acts from Tuesday night, faced the judges’ vote to see who would continue on to the America’s Got Talent semifinals.
Shock Jock Howard Stern and comedian Howie Mandel voted for Williamson, while supermodel Heidi Klum and singer Melanie Brown voted for Chloe. With a judge’s tie, the decision went to the yet unknown America’s vote as the closing credits rolled. After a stage hand ran out with the results envelope, host Nick Cannon read the verdict — Williamson was moving on and Chloe was headed home.
“I want to thank you all for everything,” Chloe said Wednesday night via Facebook. “This is only the beginning. The out pour of support has been amazing.”
Chloe Channell will be back on a local stage Friday night at 6:30 at her church as Olive Baptist presents the “Opry at Olive”, an event scheduled before Chloe’s moment in the national spotlight. The benefit concert for the Olive Ministry Village will feature a mixture of bluegrass and folk music from the Sawmill Band and the voice talents of Chloe Channell. Admission is free, but a love offering will be taken.
Pictured: Chloe Channell during a going away party in Pace before her trip to Radio City Music Hall in New York City. NorthEscambia.com photo by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Prayer Walk Held At Molino Park Elementary School
August 15, 2013
The annual back to school Prayer Walk was held Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. Dozens of students and adults prayed for the Lord’s blessings on their upcoming school year.
This year’s prayer walk, led by Highland Baptist Church, took on extra meaning as the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office continues their search for suspects that sometime last Saturday night vandalized the school and stole many thousands of dollars worth of computers and other electronics used in the school’s educational programs.
Pictured: A student prayer walk Wednesday evening at Molino Park Elementary School. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
ACLU Battles Dept Of Corrections Over Santa Rosa Correctional Records
August 15, 2013
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida has gone to court to try to get records related to a Panhandle prison, after being rebuffed by a state agency that admits to working with “antiquated” technology.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit this month against the Florida Department of Corrections, claiming the agency rejected public records requests in November and May that involved computerized information about housing assignments and cell or bunk assignments for inmates at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution.
Sara Latshaw, ACLU Northwest Florida regional director, said in an email that it’s “ludicrous” for a government agency to skirt Florida’s public-records laws by pretending employees don’t know how databases work.
“Today, more and more public information is stored in databases instead of reams of paper,” Latshaw said. “Yet the Department of Corrections denies any duty to extract this information because it has not done so before. The truth is that it is 2013 and records like this should be easier to retrieve than ever.”
Latshaw declined to say why the records have been requested.
Misty Cash, the Department of Corrections deputy director of communications, said Tuesday that the state agency doesn’t comment about ongoing litigation. However, she noted the agency is limited by its own technology.
“We have a fabulous IT team and they do everything and anything possible to supply records and things that they can,” Cash said. “However, we have a very antiquated system and often times it’s not easy to use that system and find what is there.”
The ACLU requested two years worth of demographic and housing records from Santa Rosa Correctional on Nov. 29, 2012, only to be told on April 17 that the state agency “disagrees with your position that a query of the department’s database is the same as providing existing public records.”
“A query of the department’s database for specific information that you are seeking appears to be a request for the department to provide information or perform research,” the DOC wrote to the ACLU on April 17.
The ACLU’s housing information request was narrowed on May 23 to data from a single day — the Santa Rosa Correctional demographics from Nov. 30, 2012 — along with an instruction manual and the software name for the database.
The state refused the request on June 21, in part claiming the department doesn’t have to answer questions, perform research, give out public records or create new records “when a requestor seeks information not already contained in an existing record.”
The DOC also noted in a letter on June 21 that the database manual for the department’s Bed Space Management System is confidential and exempted from public disclosure.
According to the ACLU, inmate housing assignments along with cell or bunk assignments are public records, regardless of how they are stored.
“That the past housing assignments and cell or bunk assignments are stored in a database, as opposed to being printed on reams of paper, does not alter the department’s duty,” the lawsuit said.
Barbara Petersen, president of the First Amendment Foundation, supported the ACLU, calling the state’s stance “kind of convoluted.”
“The DOC has a constitutional and statutory duty to provide access to its public records,” Petersen said. “The fact that they have stored these records in a manner that makes them irretrievable is their problem.”
by Jim Turner and Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Most Pensacola Food Worlds Sold; Belle Foods Stores To Be Auctioned Off
August 15, 2013
Bankrupt Belle Foods will sell seven stores — including several Pensacola Food Worlds — for over $1.3 million, while the company’s 44 other stories are set to be on the auction block next month.
Belle already has buyers for three of four Food World stores in Pensacola. Autry Greer & Sons, which operates Greer’s Market and Cash Saver stores in three states, has offered $100,000 for the Barrancas Avenue Food World in Pensacola. Malloy Grocery has offered $150,000 for North Davis Highway Food World in Pensacola, while there is a $150,000 offer for the Lillian Highway Food World from Fisher Douglas LLC. There has been no reported offer for the Food World on Pine Forest Road in Pensacola.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama has approved a new debtor-in-possession agreement between Belle Foods and its primary lendor, C&S Wholesale Grocers. Belle owes C&S $38.3 million, including $5 million to increase shelf stock and clean up 44 stores to be sold at a court- approved auction on September 24. C&S hopes to recover its money with auction proceeds.
The auction includes all remaining Belle Foods stores, including Atmore and Brewton.
Pictured: Belle Foods in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Mini, Junior Dance Team Clinics Planned
August 15, 2013
The Northview High School Dance Team will hold dance team clinics for elementary and middle school girls.
The Mini Dance Team clinic is for elementary school students, grades K-5. And the Junior Dance Team Clinic is for middle schoolers in grades 6-8.
The clinics will be held Saturday, August 24 from 9 a.m. until noon in the school gym. A practice may also be held on Wednesday, August 28 from 4-5 p.m. on the track in the Northview stadium. The performance will be at the Northview Chiefs home football game on Friday, August 30.
Registration forms will be sent home from area schools and select private dance classes. Or, click here to download and print a registration form.
The clinic price is $30, including a t-shirt and snack.
Century Correctional And Partners Donate School Supplies, Bicycles
August 15, 2013
Century Correctional Institution partnered with Quantum Resources, S&S Construction and the Ensley Walmart to provide school supplies and bicycles for area children. CCI delivered $3,000 in school supplies and 64 bicycles for Bratt Elementary, Byrneville Elementary, Jay Elementary, Ernest Ward Middle, Northview High and the Camp Fire USA program in Century. The bicycles are typically used by the schools as education prizes or incentives.
Pictured: Century Correctional Institution and partners delivered bicycles and school supplies Wednesday to (top) Byrneville Elementary, (inset) Bratt Elementary, and (below) Camp Fire USA in Century and Jay Elementary. Pictured bottom: School supplies loaded up in a CCI van ready for delivery. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Royals All Sports Season Passes On Sale Now
August 15, 2013
All sports season passes are one sale now at Jay High School through August 23.
Passes are $175 for a family (anyone living in the same household), or $100 for an individual pass.
To purchase a pass, see Lynn Atkins in the Jay High School main office. These all sports passes are good for admission to all sporting events at Jay High School, except tournaments.
James D. Forte
August 15, 2013
Mr. James D. Forte, 87 of Atmore, passed away August, 14, 2013, in Atmore. He was born December 2, 1925, in Atmore.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 17, 2013, at 10 a.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home with Rev. Otis Thames and Rev. Arnold Hendrix officiating.
Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 16, 2013, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, Mr. Forte requested donations be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. Donations can be mailed to Shriners Hospital for Children Attn: Brenda Rubio 815 Market Street Galveston, TX. 77550 or by phone at (800) 241-4438 Memorial for James D. Forte in support for Children’s Hospital in TX.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Atmore, Al.