Appeals Court Rules In Cantonment Insurance Agent’s Racketeering, Money Laundering Case
March 1, 2016
A Cantonment insurance sentenced to eight years in prison for racketeering and money laundering may be set free from jail as he appeals, following a ruling released Monday by the Florida First District Court of Appeal.
Circuit Judge Ross Goodman found Randall Petersen guilty of conducting a fraudulent insurance scheme that involved the theft of several hundred thousand dollars of commissions and bonuses from American National Insurance Company and Liberty National Insurance Company.
Petersen filed an appeal and a motion for post-trial release, which would have allowed him to stay out of jail awaiting the outcome of the appeal. Judge Goodman denied the motion for post-trial release. The appellate court reversed and remanded the post-trial release motion back to Goodman for reconsideration. He can grant the post-trial release, or again deny with specific reasoning. The decision by the appeals court has no impact on Petersen’s conviction appeal.
In the scheme in which Petersen was convicted. he advertised job opportunities on the internet for College Consultants of the Gulf Coast, and induced hundreds of applicants to provide information for life insurance that he and his associates described as free job benefits.
The prosecutor, Assistant State Attorney Russ Edgar, showed that College Consultants was not a real company and Petersen merely used the information from the job applicants to complete life insurance applications that he submitted to the insurance companies. The companies paid Petersen advance commissions, which were as much as 130% of the first year premiums, and bonuses.
Before the companies realized the insureds were not employees, Petersen had obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars of commissions and bonuses and let the policies lapse for nonpayment.
Petersen was sentenced to eight years in prison followed by seven years probation.
FWC Law Enforcement Report
March 1, 2016
The Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement reported the following activity during the weekly period ending February 25 in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
Officer Manning checked an individual fishing with a cast net at the 12th Avenue Bridge which is over Bayou Texar. Officer Manning spoke to the subject and asked how he was doing and how many mullet he had caught. The subject replied that he knew he had over 50 and was just trying to make some money. The subject did not have a commercial fishing license. The subject was in possession of 315 mullet, while the daily bag limit is 50. Officer Manning issued a notice to appear citation to the subject for over the bag limit of mullet. The fish were seized as evidence.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Officer Hutchinson was working after sunset targeting illegal hunting activity. Approximately 30 minutes after legal shooting hours had ended, he heard a shot from a rifle directly south of his location. Officer Hutchinson walked towards the location where the shot came from and discovered that the gate at the edge of the field was open. Using his binoculars, he observed a subject at the south end of the field shining a flashlight near a deer feeder. He made contact with the subject who later admitted to shooting at deer after legal shooting hours in the moonlight. The subject claimed that he hit the deer when he shot at it but was unable to locate it. When asked why he shot after legal shooting hours, the subject said that he was trying to kill, before anyone else, a big buck that he saw on a game camera. The subject was issued a notice to appear for attempting to take game after legal shooting hours. The deer was not recovered.
This report represents some events the FWC handled over the past week; however, it does not include all actions taken by the Division of Law Enforcement. Information provided by FWC.
Gov. Scott Asks Obama For Federal Disaster Declaration
March 1, 2016
Gov Rick Scott has requested that President Obama issue an emergency declaration, after touring damage in the Panhandle last week caused by severe storms. The declaration would provide federal aid to help Escambia and Santa Rosa counties recover.
The request could provide up to $5 million in emergency assistance.
Pictured: Gov. Rick Scott speaks with a resident of Front Street last week. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Juvenile Detention Cost Split Moves Forward
March 1, 2016
A Senate committee Monday continued moving forward with a plan aimed at ending years of legal fights with counties — including Escambia and Santa Rosa — about sharing juvenile-detention costs.
But Senate sponsor Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, said a key will be getting all counties subject to the costs to agree to drop litigation and create a “clean slate.” Latvala told the Senate Rules Committee that all but two counties have agreed to such a condition, though he did not identify the counties.
Monday’s approval by the Rules Committee prepares the bill (SB 1322) to go to the full Senate. The bill would restructure the cost-sharing system for juvenile detention costs, leading to a 50-50 split between counties and the state. The legal fights in recent years have centered on arguments that the state has shifted too much of the tab for juvenile detention to the counties. The effect of the bill is that counties would pay a total of $42.5 million during the upcoming 2016-17 fiscal year, down from $54.3 million this year, according to a Senate staff analysis.
The dispute affects 38 counties. The remaining 29 counties are considered “fiscally constrained” and aren’t required to contribute to juvenile-detention costs.
by the News Service of Florida
Tornado Recovery: USDA Rural Development In Century Today
March 1, 2016
USDA Rural Development will be at the Century Town Hall today from 10 a.m. to 2 pm. to meet with applicants interested in information about USDA’s Single Family Housing Loan Program for new construction, repair, renovation or purchase of a home or the Single Family Housing Repair Loan/Grant Program for minor repairs
taff will be on hand to accept applications, meet with clients, gather information, and provide advice and services. Income limits apply and the property must be owner occupied to receive assistance.
For more information, call the USDA Rural Development Crestview Area Office at (850) 682-2416.
The Century Town Hall is located at 7995 North Century Boulevard.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Human Remains Indentified As Missing Santa Rosa Man
March 1, 2016
Human remains found last Wednesday at clay pits in Milton are those of a Milton man that had been listed as missing for about a month.
The remains were identified to be those of Brad Christopher Mathews, 37, from Milton. Mathews was listed as missing-endangered in early January and there has been an active investigation since that time, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
The cause of death remains under investigation by the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Seahawks Top NHS
March 1, 2016
The Northview Lady Chiefs lost a hard fought game to the South Walton Seahawks Monday night at South Walton 5-4.
Tori Herrington pitched seven innings, striking out nine while allow three hits, five runs, two walks and zero errors.
Northview hitters: Aubree Love 1-3 with 2 RBI’s, Laurie Purdy 1-4 with an RBI, Kendall Enfinger 1-4 with a run, Jamia Newton 1-4 with a run, Lydia Smith 1-3 with a run. Daphne Young also scored a run.
Northview will travel to Freeport next to play the Bulldogs Tuesday March 1 at 5:30.
Century’s Only Doctor Ordered To Cease And Desist; Pleads Case With Governor
February 29, 2016
Dr. Christian Bachman finds a lot of irony in the fact that his office building in Century was deemed unsafe, but it’s the very place many Century residents ran for shelter after last week’s devastating tornado.
Century’s only doctor has been embroiled in a fight with a state agency to continue his medical practice from the old Century Hospital building. In a letter dated August 26, 2015, Century Health Care Access (CHCA) and Dr. Bachman, president of CHCA and physician for Mayo Street Medical, were ordered to vacate the facility by September 30, 2015, by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, current owners of 25,000 square foot building on Mayo Street.
The eviction date passed, with Bachman and his medical practice receiving much media attention that began with a NorthEscambia.com story. As a result, Bachman said, DEP shifted their position, which at first seemed like a positive breakthrough. But with time, he said he’s realized it appears the DEP has simply changed their strategy to making “impossible demands”.
Bachman said a subsequent letter from DEP gave his practice 60 days to fix a series of issues, some of which such as sprinkler and alarm panel inspections, were reasonable and are underway.
“Unfortunately the 60 day letter also includes a few issues which are almost impossible to surmount, including getting rid of the medical clinic sublease and also our research lab, both of which are the whole purpose of our mission in Century,” Bachman said. “This makes the entire letter a hollow gesture.”
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office also demanded changes that the doctor said were impracticable to impossible. Demands included repairs to large areas of ceilings that were patched by DEP or their contractors in the 1990’s to install a new fire sprinkler system. He said it was not possible to obtain the permits for the work in a short time period, much less make the costly repairs.
Bachman has refused to budge, continuing to operate his medical practice, seeing patients regardless of their ability to pay and even making house calls.
On Friday afternoon, February 12, 2016, law enforcement officers served Bachman a cease and desist order that demanded that no member of the public be allowed inside the building due to fire code violations.
“The facility has been closed to the public by order of the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Under the Fire Marshal’s cease and desist order, no public access to the building shall occur until such time as the repairs to the critical life safety systems have been addressed to the satisfaction of the State Fire Marshal’s Office,” Lori Elliott, press secretary for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said in an email to NorthEscambia.com..
“The terms of Dr. Bachman’s lease require him to adhere to the standards of the Florida Fire Prevention Code and the National Fire Protection Association Standards, as determined and enforced by the State Fire Marshal. Any requirements or actions by the Fire Marshal Office are separate and outside the scope of DEP’s authority, however, DEP’s responsibility and authority is to ensure compliance with applicable laws and codes and to uphold the terms of the lease,” Elliot continued.
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Two days after a powerful EF-3 tornado leveled much of the Century area around the old hospital, Bachman stood outside the building, pointing out the damage. He said the building suffered roof damage and several windows were blown out, including those on his research laboratory.
“It’s pretty much all gone, including my mass spectrometer,” he said. “I don’t know what I can do; I’ve lost all of my research equipment.”
At that point, he said he was not sure what the next step in his fight to stay open would be. In fact, he began to question the battle.
“This thing (lease dispute) may have resolved itself because of this tornado,” he said. “I have an odd sense of relief over what may have been a petty little fight. There’s no way I can fix this building now. I don’t know if the whole fight now seems stupid.”
Bachman said the cease and desist order from the State Fire Marshal’s Office was served on him about 3:45 to 4:00 on that Friday afternoon, with a 72-hour provision to comply. Almost exactly to the minute 72 hours later, the most powerful tornado to hit Escambia County in 45 years roared through Century with winds over 150 mph, and wiped out numerous homes in Century around Bachman’s office.
He said he ran out and immediately began looking to help anyone that was injured.
“Then a little while later after the tornado, it started to get real dark again. We all feared there might be more to come. Everybody ran here (to the old hospital) for safety,” he said. “That’s the supreme irony in all this. All those people ran to a building for safety, a building that’s been deemed to be so unsafe.”
“If this is the end of this building,” he said a couple of days after the tornado, “there’s something to say about it going out helping so many people.”
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When Gov. Rick Scott toured the tornado damage in Century last week, it presented Bachman with a sudden and unexpected opportunity to discuss his battles with state government face to face with the state’s top elected official.
As Scott walked along Mayo and Church streets, toward the old Century Hospital, he had been briefed on the facility and Bachman’s plight. As Scott and his entourage continued to walk down Church Street, just outside the boarded-up windows of Bachman’s research lab, Bachman grabbed the chance to plead his case.
“We had no idea Gov. Scott was coming, but it seemed like a golden opportunity. We presented the petition to bring attention to the issues at the old Century Hospital. This petition has been circulated over the last several months in support of keeping the old Century Hospital building open to deliver medical care. Several hundred folks were kind enough to sign this and it was our unexpected pleasure to hand this personally to the governor,” Bachman wrote in an email. “In the few moments the governor and I spoke he was quite polite and understanding.”
Scott listened to Bachman, assuring him that he would review the situation, as he thumbed through the petition.
As far Bachman’s next move…it remains a wait and see game.
Pictured top: Dr. Christian Bachman shakes hands with Gov. Rick Scott just outside the old Century Hospital. Pictured top inset: Damage to the old Century Hospital following a tornado. Pictured middle insets: Backman points out tornado damage which left his research laboratory without windows. Pictured bottom inset: Bachman presented a petition to Scott. Pictured bottom: Bachman’s petition in the hands of the governor. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Dogwood Park Drive-By Shooting Under Investigation
February 29, 2016
An apparent drive-by shooting Sunday night in Dogwood Park, north of Molino, is under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriffs Office.
A resident on Seely Road near Highway 97 reported shots-fired about 9:55 p.m. At least one bullet hole was found in the home, according to Amber Southard, ECSO spokesperson.
There were no injuries reported.
The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Pedestrian Killed On Pine Forest Road
February 29, 2016
A pedestrian was killed Sunday evening on Pine Forest Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 38-year old Timothy W. Thornton of Pensacola was walking south of the shoulder of Pine Forest Road south of Five Flags Speedway when he was struck by a southbound 2010 Hyundai SUV driven by 64-year old Glenn W. Jenkins of Pensacola.
Thornton was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Jenkins was not injured.
According to the FHP, the exact location of the vehicle and Thornton at the time of impact remains under investigation.