Century Man Gets Prison Time For Whataburger Attack, Drugs, Fleeing From Deputies
April 2, 2014
A Century man has been sentenced to state prison on a long list of charges stemming from an attack on an individual a the Century Whataburger, fleeing from deputies and drug possession.
Travis Montes Mitchell, 28, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Ross Goodman to 67 months in prison with a three year minimum mandatory after being convicted of: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill, felony battery without great bodily harm, possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana not more than 20 grams, trafficking in opium or derivative, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of fleeing with disregard for the safety of persons or property, three counts of driving while license suspended, resisting arrest without violence, and fleeing or eluding law enforcement in a patrol vehicle with lights and siren activated.
Mitchell attacked and injured an adult male on February 2, 2013, in the parking lot of the Century Whataburger. The victim told deputies that Mitchell then pulled a handgun and threatened to kill him. Mitchell fled the parking lot as law enforcement arrive on scene.
On February 19, deputies spotted Mitchell in his white Mustang on 57th Avenue near Jackson Street. They attempted a traffic stop due to outstanding felony warrants, but Mitchell fled at a high rate of speed, leading deputies on a chase along Lillian Highway to Border Street where he fled on foot.
Deputies surrounded the area and caught up with Mitchell after observing him jumping fences and running through residential yards. After deputies arrested Mitchell, they reported finding marijuana roaches in his pockets and bags of marijuana in his vehicle.
Mitchell was also charged with multiple drug counts after a traffic stop in Century in March 2013. He was the passenger in a vehicle stopped for speeding by Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies on Jefferson Avenue in Century. Deputies reporting finding crack cocaine in his pants pocket.
In a backpack and other items belonging to Mitchell, deputies reported finding more crack cocaine, powdered cocaine, pills containing hydrocodone , methamphetamines, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Low Income Energy Assistance Program To Accept Applications
April 2, 2014
The Community Action Program Committee will offer Florida residents the opportunity to request assistance with their gas or electric bills later this month in Century.
The CAPC will hold a Pre-Screening on Wednesday April 16 at 8 a.m. and Certification for Services on Thursday April 17 at 9 a.m.at the Century Ag Building on West Highway 4. Applicants are required to attend the per-screening meeting on April 16 before application packets are received on April 17.
Anyone requesting assistance must be on time to receive services. For additional questions contact the CAPC office at (850) 438-4021.
Tate Tennis Team Takes Runner-up In District, Headed To Regionals
April 2, 2014
The Tate Aggies finished as runner-ups in District 1-3A Tuesday, giving them a chance to move on to the regional tournament on Tuesday April 8 against either Niceville or Leon. It will be the first time in 20 years that a Tate tennis team has advanced to regionals. Pictured: (L-R) Sandy Bonucchi, Carlie Del Gallo, Coach David Bonucchi, Cami Kennedy and Sarah Colburn. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Landlord Discovers Meth Lab
April 2, 2014
An Escambia County man was arrested after his landlord discovered a meth lab in his rental home while investigating a water leak.
Joshua James Selph, 29, was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a listed chemical and producing methamphetamine.
Narcotics investigators said they located evidence of meth manufacturing on the premises of the rental home in the 600 block of North 77th Avenue. The meth lab was neutralized by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Rapid Response Team.
Selph remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday with bond set at $45,500.
Court: Voter Purge Violated Federal Law
April 2, 2014
A voter purge by Secretary of State Ken Detzner in 2012 violated the law, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday in the most recent episode of a heated legal battle over the program and its possible successor.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments from Detzner that the effort to remove suspected non-citizens from the voting rolls did not violate a federal law barring wide-ranging efforts to cleanse those rolls within 90 days of an election. In the 2-1 ruling, justices also said they took a case that would otherwise be moot because of the possibility that the state will attempt another purge in the future.
“The fact that the provision now before us applies to ‘any program’ strongly suggests that Congress intended the 90 Day Provision to encompass programs of any kind, including a program like Secretary Detzner’s to remove non-citizens,” Circuit Judge Beverly Martin wrote for the court.
The ruling was a limited victory for a coalition of immigrant advocacy groups and voters who said they faced the possibility of being wrongly removed from the rolls. While the state would be justified in attempting to prevent non-citizens from voting, a sweeping effort like Detzner’s — pushed by Gov. Rick Scott — couldn’t be done so close to an election under the National Voter Registration Act, the judges said.
Detzner’s efforts to scrub the rolls in 2012 were subject to a series of legal and political challenges, beginning when he decided to use driver’s license data to ferret out non-citizens. He later reached an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security giving the state access to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, database.
That effort never really got off the ground when it ran into resistance by local elections supervisors, who complained that the list Detzner sent them before getting access to SAVE was riddled with errors.
But Detzner has since worked to ramp up “Project Integrity,” a process in which voter registration records were to be matched with the federal database to ensure prospective voters were eligible to cast ballots.
That effort has also faltered. Detzner announced last week that he would back away from the plan. In a memo to supervisors, he blamed changes to SAVE for his decision.
“These changes will enhance and improve the credibility and reliability of the potential ineligible matches, but DHS anticipates Phase Two will not be complete until 2015,” Detzner wrote. “For these reasons, with your input, I have decided to postpone implementing Project Integrity until the Federal SAVE Program Phase Two is completed.”
In her opinion, Martin pointed to the possibility of a future purge as a reason to rule on the lawsuit, even though it might otherwise be moot because Detzner abandoned the earlier purges.
“The Secretary has also not offered to refrain from similar programs within the 90-day window in the future. Thus, there is a reasonable expectation that the plaintiffs will be subject to the same action again,” Martin wrote.
The only dissenting member of the panel, Judge Richard F. Suhrheinrich, gave no explanation of his disagreement other than saying he agreed with the lower court ruling against those bringing the lawsuit.
A spokeswoman for Detzner said the department is reviewing the decision.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Group Makes Plans To ‘Reimagine Century’ In September
April 2, 2014
An organizational meeting was held Tuesday night for Reimagine Century — a September 13, 2014, event that will be held at Showalter Park in Century.
Organizer Linda English said the group is on a mission to serve those less fortunate — both their physical and spiritual needs.
Churches, she said, are often different — some black, some white, some contemporary, some traditional — but it’s those churches that will come together to serve during Reimagine Century.
“For just one day, we will put all of that aside and just serve those in our own backyard,” she said.
The event will include a wide variety of activities, including a 7,000 pound food giveaway, health screenings, AIDS testing, live music, fishing lessons from Mission Fishin’, Manicures, a laundry detergent giveaway, youth and teen activities, haircuts, entertainment, lunch and much more — all free for the community.
About 40 people, representing a variety of churches, businesses and community groups, attended Tuesday night’s organizational meeting. Interested persons are invited to attend the group’s next meeting on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Century Ag Building on West Highway 4.
“The businesses, churches, organizations, and ministries in the Century community are ready to serve the impoverished and each other,” English said.
Molino Library Celebrating One Year, Holding Book Fair
April 2, 2014
It’s a big week at the Molino Branch Library with a book fair and a one year anniversary celebration.
The Book Fair will be open Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and April 4 and 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Funds raised will help with the library’s 2014 Summer Reading Club. The community is invited to attend this fun reading event that helps inspire children to become lifelong readers. The Book Fair offers specially priced books and educational products, including popular series, award-winning titles, new releases, adult bestsellers and other great reads from more than 100 publishers.
The West Florida Public Library in celebrating the first anniversary of the Molino Branch on Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. Local groups will be in attendance including the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office, Molino Fire Department, Molino Historical Society, local authors and more. The Dogwood Dulcimer Association will provide music and anniversary cake will be available for attendees to enjoy.
23rd Annual Century Sawmill Pageant Winners
April 2, 2014
The 23rd Annual Century Sawmill Pageant was held recently in Century.
The event included pageants for numerous age groups for beauty, casual wear, and most photogenic. Dozens of girls participated in the Century Lions Club fund raiser. All proceeds will benefit needy children in the Tri-County area.
Winners for each age category are detailed under each photograph above and below:
Tiny Baby Miss (0-23 months): Above: (L-R) 1st-Anniston Salter; 2nd-Madelyn Faulk; Queen-Jillian Sanders, and 3rd-Zemma Holt.
Toddler Miss (2-3 yrs): Above: (L-R) 1st-Layla Schoonover; Queen-Jessica Pritchett; 2nd-McKenzie Griffis; and 3rd-Sarah Blackburn.
Little Miss (4-5 yrs): Above (L-R) 1st-Kailee Herndon; 3rd-Jacie Himes; Queen-Jillian Braswell; Photogenic-Emily Maughon and 2nd-Lanie Stephens.
Young Miss (6-7 yrs): Above: (L-R) 3rd-Cadee Carroll; 1st-Olivia Griffs; Queen-Bailey Glover; 2nd-Jordan Sanders.
Junior Miss (8 yrs-5th grade): Above: (L-R) Nevaeh Brown; Queen-Nala Hunter; 2nd-Bentley Glover; and 3rd-Briana Dunsford.
Middle School: Above: (L-R) 2nd-Lydia Bell; Queen-Janna Johnson; 1st-Carly Sanders; and 3rd-Chloe Smith.
High School: Above: (L-R) 2nd-Heather Hilton; Queen-Kassidy Adams; 1st-Ronna Tullis; and 3rd-Valerie Sawyer.
Submitted photos by “Photos By Fisher” for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Houses Passes Juvenile Sentencing Revamp
April 2, 2014
After struggling in the past to resolve the issue, the Florida House on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would change juvenile-sentencing laws in cases of murders and other serious felonies.
The bill (HB 7035) stems from a pair of major U.S. Supreme Court decisions that dealt with life sentences for juveniles. The decisions have spawned legal questions in Florida courts, and House bill sponsor James Grant, R-Tampa, said lawmakers need to pass a bill or that the Florida Supreme Court will end up deciding the sentencing issues.
“I believe we have landed in a good spot,” Grant said.
In a 2010 case, known as Graham v. Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court banned life sentences without a “meaningful opportunity” for release for juveniles convicted of non-homicide crimes. And in a 2012 ruling known as Miller v. Alabama, the high court barred mandatory life sentences for juveniles convicted of murder. Juveniles can still face life sentences in such cases, but judges must weigh criteria such as the offenders’ maturity and the nature of the crimes before imposing that sentence.
The House bill calls for judicial hearings and sentencing standards that would vary depending on the nature of the crimes.
As an example, a juvenile convicted of a murder classified as a capital felony could be sentenced to life in prison after a hearing to determine whether such a sentence is appropriate. If a judge finds that a life sentence is not appropriate, the juvenile would be sentenced to at least 40 years. Also, juveniles convicted in such cases would be entitled to reviews after 25 years.
An underpinning of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings was that juveniles are different from adults and function at different stages of brain development. As a result, the court held, juvenile sentencing guidelines must offer young offenders the chance to show that they have been rehabilitated while in prison.
Member of both parties praised the House bill, which came after earlier legislative attempts to address the issue failed. Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said he doesn’t believe the bill goes far enough to protect juveniles from harsh sentences, but he said it is an improvement.
Grant said it will ensure that “monsters” who threaten safety will not be let out of prison but that not all juveniles would be treated that way.
The Senate version (SB 384) of the bill is expected to be heard on the Senate floor later this week.
by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida
Bentley Settles BCS Championship Bet; Scott Enjoys Toomer’s Lemonade, Honors FSU
April 2, 2014
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley settled a bet with Florida Gov. Rick Scott Tuesday — sending a gallon of Toomer’s Lemonade from Toomer’s Drug Store in Auburn south to Tallahassee. The two governors had made a friendly wager of the BCS Championship game in which Florida State beat the Auburn Tigers 34-31.
The FSU football team was honored by the Legislature before meeting with Scott. Scott was joined by FSU coach Jimbo Fisher and his wife Candi on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion to enjoy the lemonade.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
