A jury took just 20 minutes to find Elijah Jackson, 51, guilty of sending a lewd picture of himself to his 15-year-old cousin and luring her for sex while he lived with his adult girlfriend of 12 years.
Circuit & County Court
Prosecution Seeks To Take Picture of Defendant’s Erect Penis. Judge Says No. Twice.
51-year-old Elijah Jackson’s trial began in Bunnell this morning. He faces accusations of transmitting an image of his penis to his 15-year-old cousin. The prosecution on two occasions sought to have Jackson’s penis photographed while erect, for comparative purposes.
Calling It Terrorism, Judge Finds FPC Girl Guilty of Threatening to Kill Teacher; She’s Appealing
Circuit Court Judge Chris France, applying an extremely broad definition of terrorism, today found a 17-year-old former Flagler Palm Coast High School student guilty of threatening to kill her teacher through written messages to a fellow-student a year ago.
Johnnie Thomas Jr. Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for ‘Cold-Blooded’ Killing of Robert Emmanuel
Johnnie Spydale Thomas Jr., a 26-year-old Bunnell resident with a long record of crime and incarceration, was sentenced to 25 years in prison this morning for bludgeoning 60-year-old Robert Emmanuel during a crack deal outside Emmanuel’s Bunnell home two years ago.
Amicus Curiae: The 16-Year-Old FPC Girl Was Racist. She Was Stupid. She Was Not Criminal.
In the case of an FPC girl who wrote bigoted threats about her teacher last December, the prosecution is making outlandish claims that it was act of terrorism, stretching the meaning of a 2018 law passed after the Parkland massacre. The law does not apply, as even the prosecution acknowledged the case’s weaknesses.
Girl Who Made Bigoted Death Threats About English Teacher at FPC Is Tried, But Judge To Rule Later
A circuit judge this afternoon tried a white, 17-year-old former Flagler Palm Coast High School student accused of making death threats laced in bigoted language against her black English teacher a year ago.
Association Opposing 240-Boat Storage Facility in the Hammock Takes Its Case to Circuit Court
The Hammock Community Association is challenging the Flagler County Commission’s decision to allow the Hammock Harbour project to go forward, claiming A1A zoning rules don’t allow for a warehousing-type facility. The county does not consider the planned development to be a warehouse.
Judiciary Lets Down Its Robes as It Celebrates Flagler County Judge Totten’s Investiture
Flagler County Judge Andrea Totten’s investiture at Channel Side in Palm Coast drew more than a dozen judges and nearly as many ceremonial presentations and speeches advising the judge on her new course.
Michael Cummings Pleads to Murdering Ex-Wife at Palm Coast Home and Faces 30 Years to Life in Prison
Days from his trial on a first-degree murder charge, Michael Cummings, 48, pleaded to second degree murder in the death of Faith Cummings, 44, at their Point Pleasant home in Palm Coast in January 2018.
James Taylor, 42, Is Sentenced to Life in Prison for Molesting 11-Year-Old Step-Daughter
The mandatory sentence was expected. Circuit Judge Terence Perkins had no choice because Taylor is a previously convicted felon several times over, and the victim at the time of the offense was younger than 12.
Rare Look at Minefield of Self-Representation as Judge Perkins Defends Decision to Deny Murder Suspect’s 6th Amendment Right
Circuit Judge Terence Perkins for the second time in five weeks on Tuesday defended his decision to deny Joseph Bova the right to represent himself during his trial on a first-degree murder charge at the end of September. Bova was found guilty and Perkins sentenced him to life in prison. The case is on appeal.
Turning Down Plea Offer, Michael Cummings Will Be Tried Nov. 18 on Wife’s Murder
Michael Cummings is accused of murdering his ex-wife at the house they shared on Point Pleasant Drive in Palm Coast in November 2018. Faith Cummings, 44, was found bludgeoned and asphyxiated.
Appeals Court Upholds Attempted Murder Conviction of Jonathan Canales, Who’s Serving Life Term
Jonathan Canales, now 32, was convicted of shooting his live-in girlfriend and the mother of three young children in the neck in their Daytona North trailer in 2014. His appeal focused on his prior acts of domestic violence toward the victim, saying thay should not have been admitted at trial.
Jury Finds Victor Williams, 43, Guilty of Lesser Charge In Case of Sex and Drugs With Boy, 16
Victor Williams of Palm Coast faces up to 15 years in prison. He would have faced life in prison on the more serious charge. The five-day trial hinged on whether Williams had impaired the boy with alcohol and Xanax when they had sex.
Victor Williams’s Odd Defense: The 16-Year-Old Boy Was Drugged When They Had Sex, But Not Impaired
Victor Williams, 43, says he never drugged the 16-year-old boy he had sex with at his house, and that all acts were consensual. The boy’s account differs, but a pharmacologist says there was little evidence of impairment.
Accused Rapist of a 16-Year-Old Boy, and Jury, Witness Mother’s Wrath and Anguish as Trial Takes a Turn
The defense of Victor Williams, 43, will have a difficult time recovering from the testimony of the mother of the boy he is accused of raping, and a from a key detail the prosecution showed the jury through a picture today, and that goes to the heart of the trial’s questions.
Now 17, Boy Recalls From the Stand Night of Alleged Rape By 42-Year-Old Man Who Says It Was all Consensual
Victor Williams faces life in prison unless he convinces the jury that, while he concedes having had sex with a 16-year-old boy, the act was not non-consensual, and drugs did not impair the alleged victim. Williams will have difficulties overcoming the boy’s testimony.
For Victor Williams, Context of 16 Year Old’s Rape Will Decide Whether He Spends Life in Prison, Or a Few Years
In his trial starting Monday, Palm Coast’s Victor Williams, 43, admits to sex with a 16-year-old -boy, but not to drugging him and raping him. The difference is the difference between 15 years in prison or a life term.
Gov. DeSantis Appoints Prosecutor and Local Resident Andrea Totten Flagler County Judge
Gov. Ron DeSantis today appointed Andrea Totten, a 40-year-old Palm Coast resident and an assistant attorney general, Flagler County judge, filling a seat newly created by the Legislature to relieve the overburdened docket of County Judge Melissa Distler.
Johnnie Thomas Jr. Pleads Guilty to Killing Robert Emanuel, 60, in 2017; Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison
Johnnie Spydale Thomas Jr., 26, of Bunnell, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 2017 killing of Robert Emanuel during a drug transaction in Bunnell. He faces between 15 and 25 years in prison.
On and Off Death Row for 17 Years, Palm Coast Double-Murderer David Snelgrove Loses One More Motion
David Snelgrove, who murdered two elderly people who’d cared for him in Palm Coast in 2000, argued through his lawyers that he was mentally disabled and so not eligible for the death penalty. A judge disagreed.
Daughter Gives Her Murdered Mother A Voice Moments Before Killer Is Sentenced To Life in Prison
Teisha Silva Rosado, eldest daughter of Zuheily Rosado, who was murdered six and a half years ago, took the stand just before the sentencing of Joseph Bova today, describing her mother to a courtroom that until then had only known Rosado as a name.
In 39 Minutes, Jury Rejects Insanity, Finding Bova Guilty of Murdering Zuheily Rosado; He Faces Life in Prison
A jury of six women and six men found Joseph Bova II, 31, guilty of murdering Zuheily Roman Rosado at a Palm Coast convenience store in 2013. Bova’s insanity defense proved unconvincing.
Joseph Bova’s Insanity Defense Unravels: ‘I Had To Kill Her To Save All the People of Flagler County’
In testimony today, Joseph Bova explained how voices told him to kill Zuheily Rosado, 32, at a Mobil convenience store in 2013, but he also conceded that he’d fought the voices for months, casting doubt about his claim that he was insane at the time.
Prosecution Rests, and Rests Easy, in Bova Murder Trial as Even Defense Witnesses Fall Short of Pointing to Insanity
Joseph Bova II is claiming he was insane when he shot Zuheili Rosado dead at the Mobil mart in Palm Coast in 2013, but even the defense’s witnesses so far are not making the case, proving more helpful to the state’s argument of pre-meditated first-degree murder.
How Joseph Bova Ended Zuheili Rosado’s’s Life in 13 Seconds: Prosecution Memorializes a Murder in Dramatic Trial Opening
The prosecution today showed images and video of Zuheili Roman Rosado’s murder at the hands of Joseph Bova, portraying a premeditated act carefully planned and executed down to the three shots that killed the single mother of six at a Palm Coast convenience store in 2013.
Bova Tries To Fire His Attorneys and Represent Himself Moments Before His Murder Trial. Judge Says No.
Before starting with jury selection this morning in Joseph Bova;s trial for the murder of store clerk Zuheili Rosado, Bova tried delaying the trial by seeking to represent himself on his insanity defense.
An Erratic Joseph Bova Goes On Trial Today for 2013 Murder of Zuheili Rosado, Arguing Insanity
Joseph Bova II’s trial begins Monday for the murder of Zuheily Roman Rosado at a Palm Coast gas station in 2013, after six years of see-sawing between Flagler’s jail and a psychiatric hospital. He is arguing insanity.
James Taylor Found Guilty, Again, of Molesting His Step-Daughter, 11, and Faces Life in Prison
It was the third trial on the same charge for ex-Palm Coast resident James Taylor, 41, after a mistrial and a remand for a new trial on appeal. He faces an almost certain sentence of life in prison because of his past as a felon and sex offender.
Same Molestation Charge, Third Trial for James Taylor After Mistrial and Appeals Court Reversal
James Taylor, 41, is accused of molesting his step-daughter, 11 at the time, by brushing her chest area over her clothes “for a couple of seconds” in 2013 in Palm Coast. A conviction could send him to prison for life.
Obscenities Aside, Kimberle Weeks Appeal May Come Down to Judge’s Baffling Decree on ‘Public Meetings’ Definition
Circuit Judge Margaret Hudson refused to allow a definition of “public meetings” during ex-Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks’s trial last year even though both defense and prosecution wanted a definition, which went to the heart of the case. That’s now a central plank in Weeks’s appeal.
Defense Tries to ‘Smear’ Victim in Case of HIV-Infected Man Accused of Raping 16 Year Old
Victor Williams, 42, of Palm Coast, is accused of drugging and raping a 16-year-old boy. His defense’s strategy is to portray the boy as promiscuous and not credible, in hopes of lessening the charges against Williams, who faces life in prison if convicted.
Palm Coast Teen Pleads Guilty to Lesser Felony Charge in Child Molestation Case, No Prison Time
Jose David Zayas, 18, of Palm Coast, was charged of molesting a family member after confessing to hundreds of assaults over many years. He faced up to 15 years in prison, but will serve five years on probation after pleading guilty to a third-degree felony child abuse charge.
Flagler County’s Own Prevail Exclusively as Nominating Commission Sends 6 Names
for County Judge to DeSantis
The recommended candidates for Flagler County judge are Alexander Alvarez, Craig Atack, Kip Miller, Scott Spradley, Andrea Totten and Alicia Washington. They were short-listed by the Judicial Nominating Commission, their names now before Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will make the appointment.
With No Chance of Appointment, Jim Manfre’s Pledge to Run for Judge in 2 Years Still Sways Nominating Commission’s Questions
Former Sheriff Jim Manfre’s candidacy for county judge was dead on arrival at interviews for the job Wednesday, but he still managed to influence the process by advocating for a Flagler choice.
Interviews for Flagler County Judge: Several Convincing Choices, A Few Odd and Startling Ones
After 24 interviews by a nominating commission, several Flagler County based candidates for Flagler County judge stood out for the short-list that will go to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’ll make the appointment later this year.
Gary Ray Bowles, a Serial Killer, Is Executed for 1994 Murder in Jacksonville
Gary Ray Bowles, who was convicted of the 1994 murder of a Jacksonville man who was hit in the head with a concrete block and strangled, was executed by lethal injection shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday night.
Failing to Kill Himself in Attempted Double-Suicide, He Is Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison For Death of Girlfriend
Bruce Haughton, the 54-year-old former R-Section resident who attempted to die in a double-suicide with his girlfriend, Katherine Goddard, two years ago, failed his part of the arrangement. Goddard died in what a judge described as a “gas chamber” she and Haughton created together.
Fruehan Pleads to a Felony and is Sentenced to 24 Months of Probation, With Mandatory Mental Health Evaluation
Former Palm Coast physician Florence Fruehan pleaded to a felony battery count admitting guilt in groping a female patient, the culmination of a case that resulted in several women making similar accusations.
Ex-Dr. Fruehan Set to Plea to Felony Count in Patient-Groping Cases and Face 2 Years Probation
Florence Fruehan, the former Palm Coast physician, is set to plea to a felony count of battery on a woman 65 or older at a court hearing Friday, the result of allegations that he sexually groped patients in his office.
Two Late Candidates Increase Pool to 24 for Flagler’s County Judge Seat as Speed-Dating Interviews Are Scheduled
Palm Coast’s Lynette Callender and Jacksonville’s Monique Hawkins are late entrants in what will be speed-dating-like interviews for Flagler County judge on Aug. 24 at the Flagler County courthouse.
Final Tally: Meet The 22 Lawyers Applying to Be Flagler’s Next Appointed County Judge
The 22 applicants are vying for the new Flagler County Court position just approved by the legislature. A commission will recommend a short list to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will make the appointment later this year.
Judge Jim Manfre? Former Sheriff Among Applicants for New Flagler County Judge Seat
With two days to go before the application window closes, eight candidates have applied to be appointed Flagler County judge, the second county judge seat the Legislature approved in its last session to share the docket of County Judge Melissa Distler.
In Culmination of the Bizarre, Man Who Faced Life in Prison For Attempting to Electrocute His Wife May Walk Out of Prison in 10 Months
Michael Scott Wilson, 32, was sentenced to 3 years in prison today but may walk out of prison in 10 months because of time served and early release. He was convicted on reduced charges after facing a first-degree attempted murder charge.
Judge Denies James McDevitt Motion for Relief, Letting 40-Year Prison Sentence Stand for Rape in Flagler Beach
James McDevitt, now 27, argued he’d gotten poor counsel from two attorneys before his sentence on a 2013 rape of a 40-year-old woman in Flagler Beach. A circuit judge rejected his claims.
Kimberle Weeks Appeals 8 Felony Convictions, Alleging Court Errors Warrant a New Trial
Kimberle Weeks, the former Flagler elections supervisor convicted on eight felony counts of illegally recording conversations, filed the initial brief to her appeal with the Fifth District Court of Appeal almost 14 months after her trial.
David Zlokas, 66, Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison in DUI Death of ‘Best Friend’ Gary St. Peter
David Zlokas, the 66-year-old former resident of Surf Side condominiums, drove home drunk in 2017 and smashed his Mustang against a tree. He survived. Gary St. Peter did not.
Siding With Local Governments, Judge Strikes Law Penalizing Officials Who Pass Gun Rules Stricter Than State’s
In 2011, Florida lawmakers approved a series of penalties that local governments and officials could face if they violated the prohibition on gun laws that are stricter than the state’s.
So You Want To Be a Flagler County Judge: Nominating Commission Is Fielding Applicants
The Judicial Nominating Commission for the Seventh Judicial Circuit is taking applications for the newly created Flagler County Judge seat, leaving Gov. Ron DeSantis to make the appointment likely this fall.
County Threatens to Sue Clerk of Court Bexley in 48 Hours Over Space Request for Sheriff at Courthouse
The county commission will sue Clerk of Court Tom Bexley in 48 hours of he does not agree to a space study at the courthouse, and to abide with the study’s results, in the commission’s latest effort to gain extra space for the sheriff.