February 2007

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February 28, 2007

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Creates New Unit to Help Find 100,000 Missing Sex Offenders and Calls for States to Do Their Part

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), there are an estimated 603,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S. today. However, of that number, at least 100,000 sex offenders are noncompliant and no one knows where they... ... more

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February 27, 2007

Search for Trenton Duckett: 6 months later

Leesburg, Florida - Today marks six months since the Amber Alert for 2-year-old Trenton Duckett first went out. There is still no sign of him. The little boy was last seen on August 27th with his mother Melinda in Leesburg,... ... more

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14 Dismissed From Couey Jury Pool

MIAMI - For those left in the jury pool of the John Evander Couey trial, the questions got harder Monday. The groups brought into the Miami courtroom where the case is being tried had to confront a personal decision: Could... ... more

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February 26, 2007

Suspect In Boy's Abduction Identified

By MICHAEL A. SCARCELLA Sarasota Herald-Tribune MANATEE COUNTY - A child abduction case that shocked the nation because of the kidnapper's brazen scheme and the victim's ingenious escape is vexing authorities and leaving parents with a sense of dread. Authorities... ... more

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Abducted teen used pin to escape

Clay Moore was left by a kidnapper in the woods, tied to a tree and gagged with his own sock to silence his screams, but the 13-year-old knew he wasn't helpless. He had his strength, and he had a safety... ... more

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February 25, 2007

Teen Takes Authorities To Scene Of Daring Escape

MANATEE COUNTY - Clay Moore on Saturday showed detectives the thicket of woods where a man bound and gagged him during a brazen daylight abduction a day earlier. Clay is helping authorities piece together a timeline and flesh out clues... ... more

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Abducted Boy Found Safe; Suspect Sought

By CHRIS CHMURA, JASON ODRA, MIKE WELLS and KEN KNIGHT A Manatee County teenager who was found four hours after being abducted from a school bus stop was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton for examination. Clay Moore, 13,... ... more

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Actor Replaced After Sex Admission

TAMPA - The show must go on, and this weekend the show went on without Jorge Acosta, a member of the cast of "Cigar City Chronicles." Acosta, 48, was replaced by understudy Jonathan Gonzalez after a Tampa Tribune article Saturday... ... more

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February 24, 2007

New Charges Send Ex-Coach Back To Jail

By MICHAEL H. SAMUELS The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 24, 2007 TAMPA - Former Tampa Preparatory School swim coach Kimberly Brabson III, accused of secretly videotaping 18 underage girls changing clothes, went back to jail Friday. Brabson, 29, was released... ... more

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Judge Suppresses Onstott's Statements To Cellmate

By THOMAS W. KRAUSE The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 24, 2007 TAMPA - A cellmate of David Lee Onstott cannot tell a jury what Onstott said when they bunked together at the Orient Road Jail, a judge ruled Friday. The... ... more

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February 22, 2007

Onstott Wants Statements Tossed

By THOMAS W. KRAUSE The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 22, 2007 TAMPA - Two years ago, Kelly May's wounds were open for the community to see. Her 13-year-old daughter, Sarah Michelle Lunde, had disappeared. Six days later, Sarah's body, partially... ... more

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February 21, 2007

Couey Jury Pool Slowly Coming Together

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 20, 2007 MIAMI - Even after convening court early and staying late, attorneys and the judge in the John Evander Couey trial added only 10 people to the jury pool Tuesday. The... ... more

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February 18, 2007

New motions filed in Trump flag case

PALM BEACH - (AP) -- Lawyers for Donald Trump have requested a jury trial in the ongoing legal battle over a large flag flying at his Palm Beach club, Mar-A-Lago. The second amended complaint was filed Friday in federal court,... ... more

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February 16, 2007

Sex Offender Ban Rejected By City Council

By ELLEN GEDALIUS The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 16, 2007 TAMPA - Heeding their attorney's advice, city council members on Thursday rejected an outright ban on sex offenders moving into the city. They also decided not to expand a state-mandated... ... more

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37 Make 1st Cut In Couey Jury Phase

By THOMAS W. KRAUSE The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 16, 2007 MIAMI - Almost halfway there. After three days of jury selection in the trial of John Evander Couey, 37 potential jurors have made the first cut. Circuit Judge Ric... ... more

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Walsh Offers Support To Lunsford, Tells Him To Keep Doing What He's Doing

John Walsh, one of America's most famous crime fighters, said he is giving moral support to Mark Lunsford, who will be at the trial of the man accused of kidnapping and murdering his daughter, Jessica. Walsh, whose son Adam was... ... more

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February 14, 2007

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Love those who are here. Cherish the memories of those who have gone. Love to all, The Amanda Brown Foundation... ... more

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February 13, 2007

To The Lunsford Family

May God be with all of you, giving you strength and courage to withstand the ordeal of this trial. We, at the Amanda Brown Foundation, will be watching closely and praying for you. May the trial's end, result in justice... ... more

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Doctor: Killing flawed at start

It is not known if Angel Diaz suffered any pain during the botched execution. By CHRIS TISCH, Times Staff Writer Published February 12, 2007 TAMPA — A doctor told a panel reviewing Florida’s lethal injection procedures that executioners “did the... ... more

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Highway Deaths Surprise Traffic Safety Specialist

By SHERRI ACKERMAN The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 13, 2007 TAMPA - With Sunday's nine traffic deaths attributed to negligent drivers, safety experts hope all drivers will take heed: Drive like you might have a wreck, says Hillsborough County sheriff's... ... more

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Couey's Attorneys Plant Seed For Appeal

By THOMAS W. KRAUSE The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 13, 2007 MIAMI - After the trial was moved from Citrus County to South Florida, after the prosecutors and defense attorneys took their seats, after John Evander Couey walked into the... ... more

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Couey jury selection has surprise

Jury selection began in the trial of the Citrus County man accused of killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. BY SUSANNAH A. NESMITH snesmith@MiamiHerald.com... ... more

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February 12, 2007

Lunsford To Testify Carefully

By THOMAS W. KRAUSE The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 12, 2007 HOMOSASSA - Mark Lunsford knows what he wants to say on the witness stand. He'll never get to say it. Last month, from the living room of his modest... ... more

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Almost to the end of long journey to justice

She would be 11 years old now, a fifth-grader filled with the typical hopes and dreams of a preteen girl. She would be anxious about the big jump from elementary to middle school. She would be fretting about her hair,... ... more

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How good is case against Couey?

A conviction in the 2005 death of Jessica Lunsford is not foregone. By JOHN FRANK Published February 12, 2007 MIAMI — In the minds of many, the trial of John Couey seems like a perfunctory step on the path toward... ... more

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February 11, 2007

Early pain set Couey on path of perversion

The Jessica Lunsford tragedy Long before John Couey was accused in Jessica Lunsford's death, he was a mistreated, misunderstood boy, relatives say. By JOHN FRANK Published February 11, 2007 The early years of John Couey's life are an untold story... ... more

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February 10, 2007

Jessie's story: an ordinary kid

The Jessica Lunsford tragedy By MICHAEL KRUSE Published February 10, 2007 HOMOSASSA Before Feb. 24, 2005, before she was taken from her room in her home in the dark, before she was kept and raped and buried alive in black... ... more

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February 9, 2007

mentally ill?

Inverness, Florida - John Couey was back in court this morning as his attorneys, once again, asked to have the trial delayed. Bu the motion was denied, and the trial will start in Miami on Monday. Two other issues that... ... more

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Selection in John Couey murder trial scheduled for Monday

Inverness , Florida- Defense attorney's for John Couey made yet another major push for a continuance Friday. The judge denied that motion. The defense also filed a motion to disqualify Howard as the judge on the case saying Couey couldn't... ... more

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CIRCUS HOLLYWOOD SUPPORTS ABF

The Amanda Brown Foundation has found a friend in Circus Hollywood. The circus is new for the first time at the Florida State Fair, February 8 - 19, 2007 and supports the Amanda Brown Foundation. Circus Hollywood, one of the... ... more

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Death penalty panel seeks public comment

By Wire services Published February 9, 2007 TAMPA - The Governor's Commission on Administration of Lethal Injection will take comments from the public this afternoon. The commission was formed after the Dec. 13 execution of Angel Diaz took twice as... ... more

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Girl Recants Rape Story, Could Face Charges

By MARI ROBYN JONES The Tampa Tribune TAMPA - A Jefferson High School girl who accused another student of rape fabricated the story and could face criminal charges, police said Wednesday. The girl, 15, signed a statement to police saying... ... more

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Judge Won't Exit Couey Case

By JIM TUNSTALL The Tampa Tribune INVERNESS - Attorneys for the man accused of raping and slaying Jessica Marie Lunsford again are asking his judge to step down. In motions filed late Tuesday, John Evander Couey's defense attorneys said he... ... more

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Man faces sex charge involving 4-year-old

SARASOTA COUNTY -- A man who was recently released from a Washington state prison after serving time for a sex crime committed there faces new sex charges for a 2004 incident. Robert Warren, 31, is charged with capital sexual... ... more

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Fullwoods agree to leave children with grandparents

By GINNY LAROE and HEATHER ALLEN ginny.laroe@heraldtribune.com heather.allen@heraldtribune.com SARASOTA -- Avoiding a public trial that would have put an already splintered family under a virtual microscope, the parents of a slain North Port girl on Wednesday agreed to leave their... ... more

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February 7, 2007

Time could be on side of ex-swim coach

He's accused of taping dozens of girls changing clothes, but faces 10 counts because of time limits. By COLLEEN JENKINS, Times Staff Writer Published February 7, 2007 TAMPA - Former Tampa Prep swim coach Kimberly Brabson III secretly videotaped dozens... ... more

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Child porn ring uncovered in Austria

VIENNA, Austria - Austrian authorities said Wednesday they have uncovered a major international child pornography ring involving more than 2,360 suspects from 77 countries, including hundreds in the United States, who paid to view videos depicting young children being sexually... ... more

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Cop charged with molestation fired

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS - (AP) -- A police officer was fired after it was discovered that he was charged with sexually abusing a 5-year-old girl. Samuel McCormick was dismissed hours after Police Chief Mike Adkinson learned the circumstances of the case.... ... more

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February 6, 2007

Sexual Predators Could Be Banned In 'Child Zones'

By MIKE SALINERO The Tampa Tribune TAMPA - A Hillsborough County commissioner wants to ban sexual predators from visiting areas where children congregate, such as parks and libraries. An ordinance proposed by Commissioner Ken Hagan would go further than the... ... more

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February 5, 2007

COURAGE

When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid. - Audre Lorde Meanings Standing for what you believe in, Regardless of the... ... more

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Brother: 'I miss Coralrose'

Fractured family of slain little girl helps plant tree at temple. By HEATHER ALLEN heather.allen@heraldtribune.com FORT MYERS -- Wearing black patent leather Mary Janes and a pink skirt, September Fullwood, 9, sang a song in memory of her little sister... ... more

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February 4, 2007

Stingy Budget For Health Care Leaves Florida Kids Uncovered

What a shame that Florida will lose out on $20 million from the federal government this year to provide health insurance for children of the working poor. These kids are not entitled to Medicaid and come mostly from working families... ... more

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Sex offenders in North Port get 'greeting'

By GINNY LAROE ginny.laroe@heraldtribune.com NORTH PORT -- Every time a sex offender moves to town, Sgt. Tony Sirianni is among the first to say welcome. Welcome, and don't screw up. Sirianni offers a handshake and strict instructions on what the... ... more

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Helping kids with cancer trumps Super Bowl

Thousands turned out to help young cancer victims at the Love Jen fest. BY JENNIFER MOONEY PIEDRA jmooney@MiamiHerald.com Sarah Koyfman spent months planning a family trip from her Orlando home to Davie this weekend. It wasn't the Super Bowl that... ... more

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February 3, 2007

Sheriff's unit watches over sex offenders

Pinellas County ranks high when it comes to sexual predators and offenders. Pinellas County ranks high when it comes to its sexual offender population. And the state of Florida ranks even higher. This according to the latest statistics from state... ... more

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February 2, 2007

Start of Couey trial won't be delayed

A judge denies defense requests for more time to deal with new evidence and witnesses. By JOHN FRANK Published February 2, 2007 INVERNESS - Legal wrangling and mounds of new evidence won't keep the trial of John Couey from starting... ... more

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February 1, 2007

KidCare's ills are legion, advocates tell senators

By JUSTIN GEORGE Published February 1, 2007 TAMPA - A woman told a panel of state legislators a joke that's been circulating: There must be a trash can underneath the fax machine at Florida KidCare, the state health insurance program... ... more

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Couey Lawyers Push For Delay

By JIM TUNSTALL The Tampa Tribune Published: Feb 1, 2007 INVERNESS - Lawyers for the accused killer of Jessica Marie Lunsford again sought a trial delay Wednesday, arguing that recent legal wrinkles would affect their ability to defend him in... ... more

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Carlie's brother recovering

SARASOTA COUNTY -- Carlie Brucia's 9-year-old brother remains hospitalized after suffering serious head injuries this week in a car crash near Bahia Vista Street and McIntosh Road. Leif Dillon Schorpen, 2700 block Blossom Drive, was flown to Bayfront Medical... ... more

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