After Appeal, Woman Now Serving 30 Days For Death Of Dog In Hot Car
June 9, 2021
An Escambia County woman convicted of the death of a dog in a hot car in now serving jail time after partially winning an appeal.
Crystal Marie Houk, 38, is serving 30 days in the Escambia County Jail for the 2019 death of her dog Gracie Mae. She will also face 36 months probation along with costs and fines when released.
In March 2021, she was convicted of aggravated animal cruelty and animal cruelty. She remained out of jail while she appealed.
On appeal, Houk’s attorney argued that convictions and sentences for both animal cruelty and aggravated animal cruelty amounted to double jeopardy. The Florida First District Court of Appeal agreed that the dual convictions violate the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy. The appeals court reversed the lessor conviction of animal cruelty and affirmed the greater conviction of aggravated animal cruelty.
On August 22, 2019 — a day described as hot and humid by prosecutors — Houk spent over an hour inside the Walmart in Ensley while her dog Grace Mae was left behind in her car in the parking lot. The windows were closed and the dog did not have any water. Knowing there was a problem with the car’s air conditioner, she left it running with a PVC pipe pressed against the gas pedal to keep the car running.
Store employees were eventually alerted and, upon gaining entry into the vehicle, they discovered the air conditioner was blowing hot air. Gracie was in great distress at that point, panting heavily and trying to catch her breath. She passed away about 15 minutes later.
An animal control officer testified that Gracie died of a heat stroke, and that she suffered.
The dog’s internal temperature was so elevated that the thermometer displayed a reading of “H,” indicating a temperature above 109.9 degrees Fahrenheit.
Linda C. Helton
June 9, 2021
Linda C. Helton, age 77, of Atmore, AL passed away on June 3, 2021 in Atmore, AL. She was born on March 24, 1944 in Damascus, AL to King David and Melissa Evelyn Lanier Cotton. She was a member of Oak Grove Church of Christ. She was the owner and a cosmetologist of Merle Norman Cosmetics in Atmore, AL for many years. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, John Cotton and Robert Cotton; her sisters, Mabel Edmiston, Marjorie Troutman and Margaret Ann Beasley. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, William “Don” Helton of Atmore, AL; her daughter, Laura (Jason) Carraway of Atmore, AL; her brothers, Stacey W. (Suzanne) Cotton of Covington, GA and Harlen Gene (JoAnn) Cotton of Atmore, AL; her grandchild, Austin Gibbs and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
A graveside memorial service and interment will be held Friday, June 11, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, AL with Bro. Brad Sullivan officiating.
Wahoos Take Down Lookouts In Rain-Shortened Opener
June 9, 2021
The Blue Wahoos offense exploded in the first inning scoring seven times against Lookouts starter Matt Pidich (L, 0-3) en route to a 9-3 win on Tuesday.
The onslaught began right from the get-go, as each of the first four batters for the Wahoos reached base safely. Peyton Burdick and Jerar Encarnacion both had base hits before JJ Bleday walked to load the bases with nobody out. Nick Fortes then came to the plate and laced a two-run double to center to put the Wahoos ahead 2-0. That was just the beginning, as Pidich was removed with two outs in the first after Burdick recorded his second base hit of the inning.
By the time the top of the first came to a close, the Wahoos had seven runs on six hits.
Brandon Leibrandt (W, 1-3) was never under any serious pressure from the Lookouts despite the hosts scoring one run in the first and second inning. Leibrandt finished the night pitched a season-best 5.1 innings and striking out four as the left-hander earned his first win of the season.
After an RBI base hit from Mariel Bautista off Wahoos reliever Zach Wolf, the Lookouts would score no more runs for the rest of the night.
In the top of the eighth inning, Burdick came to the plate as the rain came pouring down. JC Keys clipped with a fastball that appeared to slip out of his hands, which prompted the umpires to suspend play due to rain. After the mandatory thirty-minute delay, the game was called for the Wahoos.
Tomorrow the series continues as RHP Jeff Lindgren (2-2, 3.38) takes the mound for Pensacola against LHP Connor Curlis (1-2, 6.14)
Teen On Minibike, Pickup Truck Collide On Jacks Branch Road
June 8, 2021
A teen on a minibike and the adult driver of a pickup truck were both seriously injured in a collision Tuesday afternoon along Jacks Branch Road.
The truck and dirt bike collided in the 1800 block of Jacks Branch Road just north of Vantage Road about 4:40 p.m. The dirt bike came to rest near a pine tree in the front yard of a residence. The pickup truck slammed into a pine tree a few feet away.
The teen was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital by LifeFlight; the pickup truck driver was also transported in serious condition.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash and has not released further information. The Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Century Woman Charged With Cutting Boyfriend With A Knife
June 8, 2021
A Century woman was charged after allegedly cutting her boyfriend with a knife, sending him to the hospital.
Tynikke Si’Shell Derm, 21, was charged with felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
She allegedly cut the victim, identified as her live-in boyfriend and father of her three children, inside their apartment on West Highway 4. He was transported by Escambia County EMS to Jay Hospital for treatment.
The boyfriend said he was asleep in the bedroom of their apartment when he was awakened by Derm who was holding a knife in one hand and his phone in the other. He stated he got out of bed and grabbed the knife by the blade to prevent Derm from injuring him, according to an arrest report. He walked to his mother’s residence to call an ambulance.
Even though the victim grabbed the blade, the arrest report states Derm was charged because she knew the knife was sharp and “had the ability to let go of the knife rather than pulling the knife from (the victim’s) hand causing the cut”.
Derm was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
Youth Director Charged After Video Camera Found In Church Bathroom
June 8, 2021
An Escambia County youth director has been charged for allegedly placing a hidden video camera in a church bathroom.
On Sunday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to Calvary Baptist Church on Pine Forest Road after a hidden video surveillance camera was located in a bathroom.
Investigators assigned to the ECSO Special Victims Unit immediately began an investigation and identified 37-year-old David Patrick Nims as the suspect. Nims serves as a volunteer youth director at the church, according to the ECSO.
Nims was arrested and charged with one count of second degree felony video voyeurism by a person 18 or older, who is responsible for the welfare of a child younger than 16.
The sheriff’s office also served a search warrant at Nims’ home in the 7400 block of Hidden Valley Road as part of their investigation.
ECSO said the case remains under investigation and additional charges are possible. Anyone that believes they may be a victim of Nims, or knows that someone that may be a victim, is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620.
Free Breakfast And Lunch Available For Youth At Libraries In Escambia County
June 8, 2021
West Florida Libraries, in partnership with Feeding the Gulf Coast, is offering an Extended Summer Feeding program for youth ages 18 and younger.
Cold lunches and shelf-stable breakfasts are available for pickup at the circulation desks of each library. Multiple lunch and breakfast meals can be picked up at one time.
The meals are available as follows.
Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at:
- Century Branch Library
- Genealogy Branch Library
- Pensacola Library
- Tryon Branch Library
- Molino Branch Library
- Westside Branch Library
- Southwest Branch Library
Escambia County Insurance Company Owner Arrested On Wire Fraud Charges; FBI Seeks More Potential Victims
June 8, 2021
The owner of an Escambia County insurance agency has been arrested on federal charges, and the FBI is seeking additional victims.
John Michael Thomas, 51, had his initial appearance Monday on wire fraud charges related to his business, Thomas Insurance, LLC.
A federal criminal complaint was filed on March 12, 2021, charging Thomas with selling fraudulent insurance policies to his clients in exchange for approximately $4 million in insurance premium payments. On April 1, 2021, Thomas was arrested on the criminal complaint in Phoenix, Arizona, and was transported to Pensacola by the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
The criminal complaint alleges between September 2013 and December 2020, Thomas operated an insurance business and defrauded customers through a type of insurance fraud known as premium diversion. Thomas executed this scheme by collecting insurance premiums from customers and keeping the funds for personal use instead of producing insurance policies. Thomas gave the customers fraudulent documents referencing insurance policies that did not exist.
This arrest resulted from a joint investigation by the FBI and the Florida Division of Investigative and Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud, and work is ongoing to ensure all alleged victims are identified. If you are a client of Thomas Insurance, LLC and wish to speak to an investigating agent regarding your policy, please contact FBI Jacksonville at (904) 248-7000 or email FLinsurancefraud@fbi.gov, and reference “Thomas Insurance.” An FBI representative will respond with additional instruction
UWF Drops Face Mask, Social Distancing Requirements; All Event Restrictions Being Lifted In July
June 8, 2021
The University of West Florida has implementing changes to its COVID-19 guideline and protocols following CDC guidelines and in coordination with the Florida State University System.
Face Coverings
- Face coverings are strongly recommended, but no longer required at UWF locations.
Social Distancing
- Social distancing will no longer be enforced at UWF locations.
Daily Pre-screening
- The Daily COVID-19 Pre-Screening will only be required for those who have traveled outside of the U.S. and are returning to campus. The daily pre-screening email will discontinue and the survey can be found on my.UWF.edu.
COVID-19 Training
- The one-time COVID-19 Training for students and employees is no longer required.
Effective July 6, 2021, all event restrictions will be lifted and full in-person participation in University events, activities and athletic events will resume.
UWF is strongly encouraging students and others to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Chance Of Showers And Thunderstorms Wednesday
June 8, 2021
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.