Employee Pleads Guilty After Video Recording Co-Workers In Pensacola VA Clinic Restroom
June 4, 2021
A Department of Veterans Affairs employee pleaded guilty Thursday to video recording fellow employees in the bathroom at the Veterans Affairs Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Pensacola.
Robert Sampson, 52, of Gulf Breeze, entered the plea to federal charges of video voyeurism and disorderly conduct. Sampson surreptitiously videoed eight fellow employees on multiple occasions from August 2019 to June 2020.
“The victims in this case perform an incredible service to our retired and disabled military community and they should feel safe and have their privacy respected in their work environment,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody. “I applaud the Department of Veterans Affairs Police and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General for their thorough investigation into this crime.”
Sampson admitted to placing a hidden camera, disguised to look like a cell phone charger power adapter, in a restroom at the Pensacola VA Center approximately 17 times. When VA employees discovered the recording device and notified the VA Police, Sampson attempted to wrestle the employees for control of the device. Sampson later admitted that he had placed the device in the restroom to record individuals in the restroom and would later watch the footage.”
Sampson will be sentenced on August 19. He faces up to one year in jail for video voyeurism and six months for disorderly conduct.
Bleday Homers, But Wahoos Fall 5-2 To Mississippi
June 4, 2021
The Blue Wahoos were two outs from being shut out for the first time this season.
JJ Bleday ensured it didn’t happen.
The touted outfielder blasted a 98-mph fastball off the right-field scoreboard – a 387-foot, 2-run bomb – that provided a measure of ninth inning solace in the Blue Wahoos 5-2 loss Thursday against the Mississippi Braves at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
A crowd of 4,555 on the season’s third Pensacola Mullets Night, complete with the uniforms and logo change, had watched four M-Braves pitchers silence Pensacola’s offense unlike any prior game until the final inning.
Up stepped Bleday. Out went the two-strike pitch from Daysbel Hernandez, much to the crowd’s delight. They had seen just two previous Mullets hits.
It was Bleday’s second home run with Pensacola, both in this ballpark.
Bleday, the fourth overall draft pick in 2019 by the Miami Marlins, has collected three hits and reached base four times in the past two games. It’s been the positive aspect from back-to-back losses, after the Blue Wahoos had a five-game home win streak.
Opportunities Thursday were missed earlier in the game when Pensacola (16-11) had five base runners through five innings.
The M-Braves (14-13) got their first three runs on two-out hits. In the first inning, starter Jeff Lindgren retired the first two batters, but M-Braves touted catcher Shea Langeliers, who went 4-for-5 Wednesday with three homers, singled to start the production.
CJ Alexander then followed with a RBI double in the left-center gap.
In the third inning, the M-Braves Justin Dean led off with a walk, stole second and scored on CJ Alexander’s two-out single.
The M-Braves manufactured another run in the fourth inning after Wendell Rijo reached on a fielder’s choice, then scored on Dean’s two-out double.
Their other two runs were emphatic.
Rijo left no doubt in the sixth when blasting Pensacola reliever Dylan Bice’s fastball 442 feet over the left center wall into the water for a two-run homer.
In the stands, however, the night had plenty of activities with the first “Wahoo Waddle” as part of Thirsty Thursday. Adults of legal age were able to sample a variety of beverage specials at kiosk stands throughout the concourse area.
The crowd batted giant beach balls in the stands to start the game.
For the first time at the stadium, it became a venue for the annual Pensacola stop with the Troy University athletic department.
Troy head football coach Chip Lindsey and women’s basketball coach Chanda Rigby, along with men’s basketball coach Scott Cross visited as part of Troy’s Trojan Tour. They had food and visited with a group of Troy supporters on the Dignity Memorial Deck above the left-field corner during the game.
In addition, the Navarre High baseball team had a 250-member group sitting in Sections 115 and 117 along the third-base line.
The Blue Wahoos, who lead their division in the Double-A South, will try to even the six-game series on Friday night with left-hander Will Stewart starting against the M-Braves AJ Puckett.
Riley Mahan and Jerar Encarnacion had the other Pensacola hits Thursday, both singles.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
ECSO: Man Exposed Himself To Multiple People, Including Two Juveniles, At Adventures Perdido River
June 3, 2021
A 58-year old Cantonment man has been charged with allegedly exposing himself to five people, including two underage juveniles, at Adventures Perdido River in Cantonment.
Graig Alex Griffin was charged with two counts of felony lewd lascivious exhibition in the presence of victims under 16 and three first degree misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure.
A group of people was walking through the parking lot from the river to their car when they were approached by the owner and told they needed to pay a fee of $2 per person. The victim stated he did not understand why he was being asked to pay when they had already paid $20 to park, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
A group of four to five other males approached the victim and his party and told them they needed to leave. An argument ensued, and Giffin pulled down his swim trunks and exposed his genitals in front of a group of adults and juveniles, according to an arrest report.
Deputies reported finding Griffin intoxicated and drinking a beer. He told them he took it upon himself to assist the owner in escorting people off the property. Griffin said that after a member of the other group made a threat, he unzipped his swim trunks and stuck his fingers out. He denied exposing his genitals.
Multiple witnesses told deputies that Griffin did expose his genitals, and Griffin was taken into custody. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $23,000 bond.
Cantonment Cowboys Football And Cheerleading Registration Underway
June 3, 2021
Registration is open for the Cantonment Cowboys football and cheerleading seasons.
In-person registration for ages 5-14 is available every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. at the ballpark, 681 Well Line Road.
Online registration is also available by clicking or tapping here.
Florida Budget Includes $2.5 Million For The Bluffs Industrial Site In Cantonment
June 3, 2021
The Bluffs project in Cantonment will receive $2.5 million from Florida’s $101.5 billion 2021-2022 budget signed Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Announced in late 2015, The Bluffs was envisioned as the home of up to 60 new industrial and manufacturing companies. The 6,000 acre master-planned development area includes about 1,700 acres of land that can be developed in an area east of Highway 29 bordered by the Escambia River to the east, Becks Lake Road near International Paper to the north, and the University of West Florida to the south.
The $2.5 million in new funding for the state will pay for an entrance drive and upgrades at the multi-leg intersection of Chemstrand Road, Old Chemstrand Road, Emerald Coast Utilities Authority’s entrance drive, and Ascend Performance Materials entrance drives to the plant, and to the land adjacent to the properties. The funds will be used for planning, engineering, design and construction.
The Bluffs is predicted to support 11,000 direct and indirect jobs with total wages of $7 billion.
New State Budget Includes $468K For Century Water Well Upgrades
June 3, 2021
The $101.5 billion budget signed Wednesday by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis includes funding for water well upgrades in Century.
The exact amount included in the Florida’s 2021-2022 budget for the Century water well project is $468,453 with no required matching funds.
Century has three water wells — two provide drinking water to the residents of Century and one provides water exclusively to the Century Correctional Institution.
The first well on Blackmon Street and was constructed in 1963 with a pumping capacity of 400 gallons per minute. The adjacent elevated tank has a capacity of 100,000 gallons.
The second well is on Academy street and was constructed in 1983. It has a pumping capacity of 500 gallons per minute and an elevated tank with a half million gallon capacity. The well had been out of service for over a year before being placed back in service in August 2020 only to fail again. As of June 2, it remained out of service.
The third well was constructed at the prison in 1983 and can pump 400 gallons a minute with 200,000 gallon elevated storage tank. The well failed in May 2020, and the water supply to the prison was restored through an interconnect to Central Water Works.
As of earlier this year when Century asked for state help, the town had spent $353,360.47 so far for repairs to the three wells and the interconnect to Central Water Works. The funding in this year’s state budget includes $107,000 for repairs and wellhouse rehabilitations at the Academy Street well, $90,00 for repairs at the Blackmon Street well, and $210,350 for work at the prison well and a permanent generator.
The money was part of local funding requests submitted by Rep. Michelle Salzman and Sen. Doug Broxson.
Pictured: Water flows into the Century Correctional Institution in May 2020 following the failure of a Century water well. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos Fall 9-4 To Mississippi Braves
June 3, 2021
A few days earlier, Mississippi Braves acclaimed catcher Shea Langeliers was named the Double-A South player of the week for past performance.
He followed Wednesday with a one-night show at the Blue Wahoos expense.
Langeliers, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2019 draft, flashed his Major League potential in a powerful way by going 4-for-5 and blasting three home runs in the M-Braves 9-4 win against Pensacola at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Langeliers, who is considered among the top catchers in all levels of Minor League Baseball, helped the M-Braves race to a 4-0 lead after three innings. He then played a role as Mississippi answered a Blue Wahoos rally in the fourth with a combined five runs in the middle innings.
Most of the crowd of 4,109, however, stayed to enjoy the first Wednesday night fireworks show of the season.
That was part of the School’s Out Summer Bash, which included a lemonade and watermelon stand as fans entered the ballpark, then an inflatable obstacle challenge for kids in the right field party deck. It was part of a family style party night with other activities at the ballpark.
Before the game, the Blue Wahoos paid tribute to baseball icon Lou Gehrig with a video presentation on the first MLB Lou Gehrig Day.
The team also honored the memory of Jimmy Calhoun, a Cantonment native who passed away in 2018 with the same disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly know as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which claimed the life of the New York Yankees Hall of Famer in 1941 when he was 37-years-old.
Once the game began, Langeliers took charge, clubbing a two-out solo homer in the first inning. His next time up, the Keller, Texas native sent a rocket over the left-center wall to lead off the third inning. He is ranked the Braves’ No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline.com, following a star collegiate career at Baylor.
It was part of a tough night for Blue Wahoos starter Brandon Leibrandt, who gave up seven runs on 11 hits in four innings. After having two previous solid outings, this one became his roughest this season.
The Blue Wahoos (16-10) cut the M-Braves (13-13) lead in half on second baseman Riley Mahan’s two out, two run single in the fourth inning.
But in the fifth, the M-Braves chased Leibrandt with three consecutive hits to start the inning, including back-to-back doubles, as part of a three-run inning.
Trailing 9-2 in the ninth, the Blue Wahoos kept battling in the final at-bat, highlighted by Mahan’s 13-pitch at-bat when he fouled off eight pitches around a 3-2 count, then singled.
Tristan Pompey followed with a two-run triple before the M-Braves summoned Chris Nunn to end the game on two strikeouts.
The teams combined for 27 hits, but only three walks and neither team made an error.
The Blue Wahoos were led by Pompey, who went 3-for-4. Mahan, and JJ Bleday each had two hits. The series is tied at 1-1 heading into the final four games beginning Thursday.
by Bill Vilona, Blue Wahoos senior writer
South Carolina Man Charged With Robbery Of Cantonment Dollar General
June 3, 2021
Matthew Allen Harvey, 36, of Timmonsville, South Carolina, was charged with one count of felony robbery with no weapon.
Harvey walked through the Dollar General on Pine Forest Road near Highway 297A and placed several items on the counter at the front register. He allegedly told the clerk to ring up the items before instructing exactly how to open the cash register, according to an arrest report.
The clerk said after she opened the register, Harvey place his hand in his pocket and told her to give him the money in the cash register, but not any $1 bills or change. He left with the money in a plastic bag but left the merchandise behind.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office reporting finding two fingerprints from Harvey on a bottle of Gain dishwashing liquid he placed on the counter. Investigators also determined he had previous knowledge and experience operating a cash register during his former employment as the manager of a Best Way Grocery Store in Hemmingway, South Carolina, enabling him to tell the clerk exactly what to do.
The robbery took place April 25, 2019. Harvey was arrested Tuesday on an outstanding warrant and remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $10,000.
Escaped Inmate Steals Animal Control Truck, Hits Employee, Wrecks During Chase
June 2, 2021
An inmate is back in custody after stealing an animal control truck, striking an employee, and leading police on a chase that ended with a five-vehicle wreck.
The work release inmate was identified as 39-year old Candace Lane Garcia of Cantonment , who was arrested in April for a probation violation, resisting arrest, and fraud for giving a false identification to a law enforcement officer. She is expected to face additional charges for the escape and chase.
At about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Garcia took the animal control truck from the shelter on Fairfield Drive and hit an employee as she fled, according to authorities.
“An Animal Welfare employee was struck by the vehicle and is currently being assessed,” Escambia County spokesperson Laura Coale said.
The stolen animal control truck was pursued by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Pensacola Police Department. Garcia wrecked at North Davis Highway and Brent Lane, with four other vehicles involved in the crash. One person was injured and transported to a local hospital.
Garcia was taken into custody following the crash.
A dog that was in the animal control truck is okay, Coale said, and was returned to the shelter.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Man Wanted For Violent Felonies Found Hiding Out In Cottage Hill Woods
June 2, 2021
A man wanted on several violent felony charges was found hiding out in a wooded area in Cottage Hill.
Ronald Howard Pinyan III, 33, was charged with felony aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, domestic battery by strangulation, felony battery, misdemeanor battery, simple assault criminal mischief with property damage, obstructing justice by preventing communication with a law enforcement officer, felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, providing a false name to a law enforcement officer, and violation of probation on a previous possession of a controlled substance charge.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of Cottage Hill Road and Virecent Road where a man was seen walking into the woods with a fishing pole. After being ordered out of the woods, Pinyan, refused to provide his name but was later identified on scene. A small glass jar containing methamphetamine was found in his pocket, and a credit union debit card belonging to another person was found his wallet, according to an ECSO report.
Pinyan was wanted on outstanding warrants from three previous incidents:
In February 2020, Pinyan’s girlfriend of over a year reported he hit her in the face with a bat and choked her until she could not breathe, according to an arrest report. Deputies were unable to locate him at the time.
In June 2020, Pinyan’s girlfriend told deputies he woke up from a nap and “went nuts,” screaming and threatening to kill her before striking her repeatedly. He said he would take her behind a building, bash her head in and slit her throat, the report states. According to the victim’s statements to deputies, Pinyan said, he had nothing to lose and “told her til death do them part.”
By August 2020, Pinyan was living with a friend in a trailer park off Nine Mile Road. The two got into an argument, and Pinyan was asked to leave. Pinyan threatened violence against the victim, grabbing his phone and breaking it, preventing him from calling law enforcement, the report continues. Pinyan then struck the victim repeatedly over his face, back and neck.
He remained in the Escambia County Jail Wednesday morning without bond.