Escambia Man Sentenced To Hundreds Of Years In Prison For Child Molestation
June 18, 2014
An Escambia County has been sentenced to hundreds of years in prison on child sexual molestation charges.
Lee Calvin Pardue was sentenced by Circuit Judge Marci Goodman to three consecutive life sentences followed by a total of 200 years in state prison, according to the State Attorney’s Office.
Lee Calvin Pardue was convicted of two counts of sexual battery on a child, lewd or lascivious molestation, five counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child and 25 counts of possession of photos depicting sexual conduct by a child.
A Santa Rosa County Jury deliberated for about an hour before finding the 44-year old Escambia County man guilty of all charges.
Pardue was arrested on November 8, 2012, following an investigation by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office after Pardue had told an acquaintance that he took sexual photos of himself with a child. While babysitting one of the victims during the summer of 2012, Pardue committed sexual acts on the child. The images depicting these acts were discovered on
Pardue’s digital camera during a search of his home by investigators.
Images depicting sexual conduct by two other children were also discovered on Pardue’s camera. These children were able to be identified by Sheriff’s Office investigators, who found that both of the victims had been to Pardue’s home.
Pardue faces charges in another case for lewd or lascivious molestation that is currently scheduled for trial on July 7.
Sunshine Hill Road Closure
June 18, 2014
Sunshine Hill Road in Molino is scheduled to be closed most of today.
Sunshine Hill Road between Crabtree Church Road and Suncrest Lane will be closed from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. as crews replace a crossover pipe.
Hot With A Chance Of Showers
June 18, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Thursday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Friday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
- Sunday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 94.
- Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
- Monday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 92.
- Monday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
- Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 91
Council On Aging Needs Fans, Air Conditioners For Seniors
June 18, 2014
The Council on Aging of West Florida is in need of donations to help senior clients stay cool during the hot summer months.
Many clients are in need of fans and air conditioners. Donations, which must be new in the box, can be dropped off at the Council on Aging Office at 875 Royce Street in Pensacola.
Online donations towards fans and air conditioners can also be made by calling (850) 432-1475.
Escambia Student Report Cards Still On Hold
June 18, 2014
Middle and high school report cards in Escambia County are still on hold.
The report cards were delayed waiting on End of Course (EOC) grades in select subjects. Those scores were released Monday, and now district staff must convert the scores and double check them for accuracy before they are released, according to Escambia County School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. That, he said, means it will be late this week or perhaps even next week before report cards are mailed.
In the meantime, parents can check their student’s grades in other courses (and the EOC courses minus the exam grade) at the district’s parent portal. Click here to access.
Navy League Presents Scholarship To Northview Grad Braun
June 18, 2014
Recent Northview High School graduate and valedictorian Kasie Braun was presented the Russell D. Stewart Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 on Tuesday by Michael Dollen, second vice president of the Navy League. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Signs Bill To Thwart Human Trafficking
June 18, 2014
Gov. Rick Scott signed a pair of bills Tuesday as the state continues efforts to curb human trafficking.
The new laws (HB 989 and HB 7141) include numerous changes, such as increasing criminal penalties when children are victims of trafficking, requiring specially trained child-protective investigators and case managers and creating a new felony offense when victims are permanently branded. Lawmakers also set aside at least $3 million to help address the issue.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who acknowledged the trafficking issue has been an “obsession” of hers for several years, said the most important aspects involve safe houses for victims and the funding to help provide care.
“Four years ago, people didn’t want to believe that this was really happening. When we would talk of human trafficking, people thought it only happened on TV or in the movies,” Bondi said. “It’s so horrific no one wants to believe it’s real.”
The state has been ranked third nationally in the number of calls received by the National Human Trafficking Resources Center’s hotline.
In March, Bondi traveled to Mexico City with four of her counterparts for meetings about crimes that have cross-border impacts, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, financial crimes and cyber crimes.
“This is alive and thriving in our state, in our country, and in other countries,” said Bondi who added she hopes the state funding will increase.
The House and Senate approved both laws without opposition. Scott said the bills represent “progress, but more needs to be done.”
Deborah Polston, a state advocate for human trafficking victims, called the laws “aggressive” and said they will allow Florida to better care for trafficking victims who have been held captive for labor or the sex industry.
One of the bills (HB 989) increases felony penalties for people who live off the proceeds of others through prostitution or when crimes involve the trafficking of children.
The measure also removes a statute of limitations for human trafficking violations, prohibits minors from working in adult theaters and requires adult theaters to verify the ages of all employees. The law also will create a new third-degree felony for those who permanently brand trafficking victims.
The bill becomes law Oct. 1.
The other bill (HB 7141), which becomes effective July 1, directs the Department of Children and Families to inspect and certify the “safe houses,” where victims can find shelter and services, and to establish services in parts of the state where none exist.
The law would also direct DCF to adopt screening and assessment tools to identify sexually exploited children and would allow such children to be placed in safe houses if the assessment determines that is the most appropriate setting and a place is available.
The law is intended to build on the Florida Safe Harbor Act of 2012, which first created the safe houses and amended state law to classify forced prostitution as child abuse, rather as than a criminal act by the child.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Dr. Larry Walker: ECUA Employees Caught Lending A Helping Hand
June 18, 2014
Submitted by Dr. Larry Walker, ECUA Board Chairman Larry Walker
On Tuesday, I was driving on Lambert Bridge Road when I cam upon this scene — an ECUA sanitation truck stopped because an oncoming driver had slid his truck and trailer off the soft shoulder and into the ditch of the dirt road. ECUA employees Jamore Simmons and Reginald Evans attached a tow line and quickly had Mr. Edward Egerton of Oak Grove back in the road and on his way.
Louis Jennings Crabtree, Sr.
June 18, 2014
Mr. Louis Jennings Crabtree Sr., age 70, passed away peacefully at his home in Barrineau Park on Friday, June 13, 2014. He was born in Atmore, grew up in Barrineau Park and was one of seven boys. He was drafted and served in the United States Army 82nd Airborne Division during the Vietnam War and later began his career in Louisiana working offshore in the oil and gas industry. He moved to Casper, Wyoming in 1978 and later to Evanston, Wyoming. He spent the next 25 years working in the oilfields of Wyoming and the surrounding area. He moved back to his family home in Barrineau Park in 2003 after he and his brothers sold their family business.
Mr. Crabtree is preceded in death by his parents, Ollie Jennings Crabtree and Anna Catherine Dagen Crabtree; and brothers, Ollie Don Crabtree and Thomas Mathew Crabtree.
He is survived by his daughters, Darlene (Andy) Miller of San Antonio, TX, Angie (Doug) Crabtree-Dockstader of San Diego, CA; sons, Louis (Layna) Crabtree Jr. of Barrineau Park, Thomas (Katie) Crabtree of Roswell, GA; six grandchildren, Jerni, Jayda, Louis III, Sophia, Bella and Thomas Jr.; and four brothers, Huey, Clay, Walter, and Monte.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 20, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at Little Pine Barren Cemetery.
Visitation for family and friends will be held Thursday, June 19, 2014, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Kelly Crabtree, Ollie Crabtree, Taylor Crabtree, Colton Crabtree, Doug Dockstader, and Andy Miller.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is charge of arrangements.
Betty Joe Sanspree Donaldson
June 18, 2014
Mrs. Betty Joe Sanspree Donaldson, 74, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2014, in Pensacola.
Mrs. Donaldson was a native of Wawbeek, and a resident of Atmore for most of her life. Mrs. Donaldson attended the Sardis Baptist Church. Her husband, Odell Donaldson; parents, Hosea and Annie Sanspree; four brothers, Billy Sanspree, Alfred Bo Sanspree, Cecil Sanspree and Harrison Sanspree; and one sister, Annie Ruth Ray precede her in death.
She is survived by her daughter, Randi Donaldson of Atmore; brother, George Sanspree of Cantonment; two grandchildren, Stephanie Angel Purvis and Dalton Beeman Purvis both of Mobile; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Thursday, June 19, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Earle Greene officiating.
Burial will follow at the Serenity Gardens Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 19, 2014 from 9 a.m. until service time at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Sandy Sanspree, Todd Sanspree, Dale Sanspree, Jeremy Ray, Johnny Ray and Randall Miller.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.