Former Deputy Sentenced To 25 Years On Child Porn Charges
June 5, 2019
A former Santa Rosa County deputy was sentenced to state prison on child pornography charges.
Jeffrey Perkins pleaded no contest to 18 counts of child pornography and was sentenced to 25 years to be followed by 15 years probation. Once released, he will be required to register as a sexual offender.
Perkins still faces two outstanding charges of lewd and lascivious molestation and is scheduled to be back in court on July 2.
He was a sergeant at the time of his arrest and had served for nine years. The child pornography was found on his cellphone.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ex-Parkland Deputy Peterson Charged After Retreating During School Shooting
June 5, 2019
As the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting was going on last year, former Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson was outside the building. Instead of running into the building, he retreated.
Following an investigation by FDLE, Peterson, 56, was arrested in Broward County Tuesday on seven counts of neglect of a child and three counts of culpable negligence and one count of perjury. The arrest comes after a 15-month investigation into the actions of law enforcement following Parkland shooting.
“The FDLE investigation shows former Deputy Peterson did absolutely nothing to mitigate the MSD shooting that killed 17 children, teachers and staff and injured 17 others,” said FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen. “There can be no excuse for his complete inaction and no question that his inaction cost lives.”
“I was pleased the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office conducted a thorough investigation that yielded the arrest of Scot Peterson. All the facts related to Mr. Peterson’s failure to act during the MSD massacre clearly warranted both termination of employment and criminal charges. It’s never too late for accountability and justice,” Sheriff Gregory Tony said.
Peterson was the school resource officer at MSD High School during the school shooting. The investigation shows Peterson refused to investigate the source of gunshots, retreated during the active shooting while victims were being shot and directed other law enforcement who arrived on scene to remain 500 feet away from the building.
During the investigation, FDLE agents interviewed 184 witnesses, reviewed countless hours of video surveillance, and wrote 212 investigative reports totaling over 800 hours on the case to determine the actions of law enforcement as they responded to the February 14, 2018, school shooting. FDLE agents received the full cooperation and assistance from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Coral Springs Police Department and all other agencies that responded to the school shooting.
Peterson was arrested at the Broward Sheriff’s Office headquarters and booked into the Broward County Main Jail. The Broward State Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case.
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry Prefiles For Another Term
June 5, 2019
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry prefiled Tuesday as a Republican for another term.
“I am excited to seek re-election for Escambia County Commissioner, District 5. I truly understand the faith and confidence that friends, neighbors, and constituents have placed in me. I strive to always be the capable, sincere public servant that District 5 deserves, and I humbly ask them to support my re-election campaign,” he said.
Barry is an independent Certified Financial Planner, and has operated his small business in District 5 for nearly 20 years. He and his wife, Ellen, have a 3-year old daughter, Sloane, and are expecting a son in September.
Banker: Byrneville Elem. Can’t Afford $7 Million Building; Scaled-Back Options To Be Considered
June 5, 2019
Byrneville Elementary has learned they don’t have the enrollment or funds needed for a $7.7 million building project they have been considering for over a year, but that does not mean the school won’t proceed with a scaled-back building.
Last July, the Byrneville Elementary Board of Directors – the group that oversee the operations of the charter school – learned it would be about $7.7 million for a new building with 10 classrooms, a 1,000 square foot multipurpose room and associated spaces, and a new cafetorium with a serving kitchen.
The board is considering financing with United Bank through the USDA Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. The bank says the school can afford a loan of just $2.185 million with an enrollment of 205 students, or up to $2.6 million if they increase enrollment by 10 students. At the end of May, Byrneville’s enrollment was 186.
Last week, the board met with United Bank Vice President Chris Walker and architect Mike Marshall of the firm Sam Marshall Architects to discuss how they can move forward.
Marshall said corners could be cut to build a six classroom building by reducing amenities and using a metal building instead of masonry. With 10 classrooms, that building would be about $3.3 million, he added.
Marshall will bring options back to the board, mostly likely by their next meeting in July.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Tate Aggies Youth Football Camp
June 5, 2019
The Tate High School Aggies will host their Youth Football Camp June 24-26 from 5-8 p.m. daily.
The cost is $75 for each attendee in grades 2-8. Registration includes the three day camp, event t-shirt and a pizza party on the last day of camp.
Register online at tatehighfootball.com or on the first day of camp.
Video Shows Atmore Mayor Killing Racoon With Shovel; State Wildlife Officials React
June 4, 2019
Videos showing Atmore Mayor Jim Staff killing a raccoon with a shovel have gone viral on social media with people calling for his arrest, but state wildlife officials say he did nothing wrong.
The video is below. It may be disturbing to some viewers.
In a statement provided to NorthEscambia.com Tuesday, Staff said the raccoon ran at him, and he took defensive action as he and his wife Myrtle were trying to launch their boat at the Canal Park Boat Launch Sunday in Gulf Shores.
“I was going to back the boat into the water and my wife was out of the truck to hold the rope for the boat. Although I didn’t see it, I heard my wife yell and jump back in the truck and say ‘look out for the raccoon.’ A raccoon had run at my wife while she was out of the truck,” Staff said. “I then saw the animal and threw a stick at it to make it go away. Instead of going away, it ran next to a garbage can several feet away and stared at me. I was concerned because this was not a natural behavior by a wild raccoon. took a shovel out of the truck because I didn’t know what the raccoon was going to do. At that point, he then ran at me. That is when I hit the raccoon with the shovel. I was convinced that the animal was dying and would not recover.”
People in the area claimed that the raccoon was a community pet of sorts and is often fed by people at the boat ramp.
“What he did is not illegal,” Chris Lewis, assistant chief of enforcement for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, told NorthEscambia.com. “It is OK to defend yourself against a wild racoon.”
Lewis noted that it would actually be illegal for people to purposely feed the raccoon as a pet in Alabama.
“Raccoons are the biggest carrier of rabies in the state,” Kim Nix, spokesperson for the department said. “They can never be treated like pets.”
“I am an animal lover and I would never intentionally injure an animal,” Staff said. “However, when a wild raccoon, which is normally a nocturnal animal, exhibits this unnatural behavior and runs at my wife and then at me, I have every right to be fearful of what may happen. I am well aware of recent events in Baldwin County where a rabid fox and a rabid raccoon charged at and bit two women in Fairhope, Alabama….The Alabama Department of Public Health warns against the dangers of being bitten by a raccoon.”
Staff said the online videos do not tell the entire story because they only begin after he defended himself.
“The bottom line is that I had every right to fear and act accordingly when a wild animal ran first at my wife and then at me. The video and the comments posted on Facebook are both misleading and irresponsible because they don’t give the entire picture of what happened,” Staff said.
Pictured: Images from a video showing Atmore Mayor Jim Staff killing a raccoon with a shovel. Images for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Officials: Century’s Natural Gas Boss Has Been Operating Without Required Certification
June 4, 2019
The Town of Century gas superintendent has operated the town’s natural gas system without a required valid state certification, according to town officials. But exactly how long it has been is not yet clear.
Both Mayor Henry Hawkins and Council President Ann Brooks confirmed Wally Kellett’s natural gas certification has expired. Hawkins said it recently expired, while Brooks said it expired November 30, 2018.
The expiration came to light last month during a inspection of the town’s gas system. Inspectors were able to conduct the inspection only because Town Clerk Kim Godwin is still a certified operator; she was promoted to town clerk from the natural gas supervisor’s job in April 2018.
Godwin said she was unable to provide a copy of Kellett’s certification paperwork to determine the exact expiration date because it is only in his possession and he was out of town at a conference in Clearwater, Florida.
Hawkins said Kellett’s certification renewal would soon be complete. The mayor also noted that Century passed the inspection.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
ECSO: Woman Was Running Around Naked While Stabbing Man In Cantonment
June 4, 2019
An Escambia County woman was allegedly running around naked as she stabbed a man in Cantonment Sunday, according to a newly released arrest report.
Keriah Renea Giomi, 25, was charged with aggravated battery, false imprisonment and destroying evidence.
Deputies responded to the 300 block of Wegner Avenue about 4 p.m. Sunday in reference to an armed disturbance to fresh blood droplets on a concrete driveway.
Giomi met deputies at the door of the home and made spontaneous statements, but exactly what she said was redacted from the arrest report.
The stabbing victim checked into Sacred Heart Hospital’s emergency room.
He told deputies he heard Giomi screaming. When he exited his bathroom she was standing there naked hold a “hunting style knife with a hood one the end” and yelled “Jehovah” before attempting to stab him in the stomach, according to the report.
The victim said he pushed Giomi away and attempted to leave, but she reached front door first and locked it, trapping him inside. He then went to a friend that drove him to the hospital. Deputies said he suffered cuts on his hands and lacerations across his back and on his left shoulder.
A neighborhood resident told deputies he observed a naked woman running around outside chasing a black male with no shirt.
Investigators said Giomi washed blood off the knife and front porch of the home prior to their arrival.
The report does not specify if Giomi was still naked when deputies arrived on scene. She remained in the Escambia County Jail Tuesday morning with bond set at $25,000.
Newlyweds, Four Wedding Guests Charged With Burglary Of Munson School
June 4, 2019
A newlywed couple and four wedding guests were arrested after they broke into a former Munson school shortly after the wedding.
The marriage of Zachary Fuit, 26, of Roy, Utah, and Abigail Carlson, 21, of Pensacola, was held Sunday at Bear Lake in northern Santa Rosa County. They ended up in jail hours later, along with their wedding guests Zachary Barr, 21, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Stephen Pepik, 24, of Pensacola, Colton Patterson, 20, of Burleson, Texas. and Victor Peres, 21, of Newark, New Jersey. All of them except Carlson are U.S. Marines, according to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched to 11550 Munson Highway after receiving a complaint that several individuals pulled wood boards covering a broken window to access the school. The caretaker was inside the school when he heard a loud noise. he was able to write down the license plates of two vehicles outside the school. They later sped away.
Deputies said they determined the six were involved in the burglary, and items founds in one of the vehicles placed them at the scene.
All six were charged with burglary and criminal mischief. Fuit was also charged with theft.
Pictured top: Newlyweds Abigail Carlson and Zachary Fuit. Pictured below (L-R) Victor Peres, Zachary Barr, Stephen Pepik and Colton Patterson.
Summer Breakspots Offer Free Meals Across North Escambia Area
June 4, 2019
To help ensure that Florida children have access to wholesome meals during summer break, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services partners with schools and organizations to provide free meals to kids and teens from low-income areas.
The Summer BreakSpot Program provides meals at no cost to children 18 and under, while schools are closed for the summer. Last summer, more than 4,000 sites helped serve nearly 15 million meals to children across Florida.
North Escambia BreakSpot sites include:
- West Florida Library, 7991 N. Century Blvd, Century
- Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center, 6031 Industrial, Century
- West Florida Library, 6450 Highway 95A N STE A, Molino
- Quintette Community Park, 2490 Quintette Lane, Cantonment
- Carver Park Resource Center, 208 Webb Street, Cantonment
- Tate High School, 1771 Tate Road, Cantonment
- McArthur Summer Day Camp, 330 E Ten Mile Road, Pensacola
For hours of operation and other locations, click here.
Meals are available on a first come, first served basis. Acceptance and participation are the same for all children. Summer BreakSpot is part of the National Summer Food Service Program, a federally-funded program operated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Pictured: The Summer BreakSpot at Carver Park in Cantonment on Monday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
