Judge Karen Gievers found that a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016 gives eligible patients the right to smoke the treatment in private.
Circuit & County Court
Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison, F-Section Arsonist Leaves Judge Craig Puzzled By ‘Senselessness’
Circuit Judge Dennis Craig spoke heartfully and at length of the senselessness of 29-year-old Vitaly Tsabak’s burning of a family home before sentencing him to what proved to be a remarkably lenient 20-year term.
Dorothy Singer Found Guilty of Murdering Her Husband Charles; She Is Immediately Sentenced To Life In Prison
The jury did not buy Dorothy Singer’s claim of self-defense when contrasted with the huge web of lies she fabricated after killing her husband Charles in West Flagler.
Dorothy Singer Murder Trial Day 3: Unearthing Details of a Killing and Its Elaborate Cover-Up
!['This part here is the entrance of [where] the bullet punched in,” Predrag Bulic, the chief medical examiner of the Seventh Judicial District, who conducted the autopsy of Charles Singer, told the jury in the trial of Dorothy Singer, who is accused of murdering her husband. He was shot five times, four times in the head. She said at the defense table, without looking at the screen. (c FlaglerLive)](https://flaglerlive.com/wp-content/uploads/bulic-gunshot.jpg)
The prosecution today focused on the five shots that killed Charles Singer and the three months of cover-ups his wife Dorothy concocted until her arrest.
Lucille Horton Acquitted In Death of Husband In Grand Haven Vehicular Homicide Case
Lucille Horton was accused of throwing off her husband Richard Resnicoff, who’d sat on her car’s trunk, during a domestic dispute in 2013, leading to Resnicoff’s death after he hit the pavement.
On Trial For Husband’s Murder, Dorothy Singer’s Own Words and Fabrications Dig Deep Grave
Dorothy Singer, accused of murdering and burying her husband in their west-Flagler backyard, wove a web of lies to detectives and friends to explain her husband’s disappearance, as the jury heard today.
Dorothy Singer Murder Trial Starts Against Sharp Defense Objections Over Rules of Evidence
The lawyer for Dorothy Singer filed a motion for an emergency stay with an appeals court after losing attempts to delay the trial over evidence being provided late.
Defense Calls For Judge Craig To Be Disqualified From Dorothy Singer Murder Trial Following String of Startling Statements
Dorothy Singer is on trial Monday for allegedly murdering her husband Charles in West Flagler last year, but the defense claims the judge has made a series of statements that betray favoritism for the state.
5 Years in Prison for Allen D. Adams in DUI Death of Brittany Pitt on Old Dixie
Allen Adams, 30, will serve a minimum of four years out of a possible five, 10 years’ probation and lose his driver’s license for life over the DUI death of Brittany Pitt, 26.
Grand Jury Indicts Michael Cummings For 1st Degree Murder in Death of Ex-Wife on Point Pleasant
Michael Cummings had initially been charged with second-degree murder. Today’s grand jury indictment is a surprise, finding premeditation in the alleged killing.
Flagler Judge DuPont’s Fate in Supreme Court’s Hands As He Pleads For ‘Second Chance’
Flagler and Putnam Circuit Judge Scott DuPont, facing removal, filed his last pleading before the Florida Supreme Court decides his fate in the next few weeks.
One Month in Jail, 2 Years’ Probation For Man Who Assaulted Teen at Epic Theater
C.J. Nelson, the 40-year-old Palm Coast father of eight previously accused of child abuse, could have faced up to five years in prison before a jury convicted him on lesser charges.
Flagler Judge Scott DuPont Called “Unfit,” “Outrageous,” “Disturbing,” “Beyond Reckless” and Contemptuous of Law
A devastating 21-page opinion by a disciplinary judicial commission repeats in harsher language a call for Judge Scott DuPont’s removal, a recommendation going before the Supreme Court.
20 Years in Prison for Ex-Soccer Coach Who Molested Boys at Palm Coast Academy; He Faces New Rape Charge
Sean Stern was a program director at Palm Coast’s ex-Sports Pathways soccer academy for boys and girls, where he molested at least three boys over many months.
Paul Miller Loses Latest Appeal of Life Sentence for Dana Mulhall’s Murder in Flagler Beach
Circuit Judge Dennis Craig ruled that even if a use-of-force expert had been heard at trial, the jury would not have found grounds for self-defense and convicted Miller, now 70, of murdering Dana Mulhall.
Jury Finds Ex-Elections Supervisor Kimberle Weeks Guilty On All 7 Felony Counts of Illegally Recording Others
Former Flagler County Elections Supervisor Kimberle Weeks was found guilty on felony counts that she illegally recorded other officials during her tenure.
Kimberle Weeks Trial Day 3: Defense Opts Against Putting On a Case, Relying on Outlier Theory Instead
In an echo of Kimberle Weeks’s own irreverence toward established law, her lawyers are arguing an untested and unusual interpretation of what amounts to a public meeting: all conversations between public officials involving public business.
Trial Day 2: Jury Hears Kim Weeks Insult Secretary of State and Others As Ken Detzner Sat in Witness Box
Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner was a star witness for the prosecution today, saying Kim Weeks recorded him without his permission. he then heard her call him a “dumb bastard.”
Jury Seated in Kimberle Weeks Trial as Defense Wins Minor Victory Over Prosecution Tactic
The week-long trial of ex-elections Supervisor Kimberle Weeks began today with day-long jury selection. Weeks faces nine felony counts of allegedly illegally recording and disseminating communications.
Judge Craig Is Out, Judge Perkins Is In As Flagler’s Felony and Civil Benches Again Flip
Circuit Judge Terence Perkins will replace Dennis Craig, who’s headed back to Volusia, becoming the sixth judge in eight years to preside over Flagler County’s felony court.
Unprecedented Flagler Forum With 7 Judges Has Some Make News and Others De-Mystify The Bench
Seven local judges appeared at the Flagler Palm Coast Forum Tuesday evening, the Ed Fuller group devoted to civic and electoral discussions featuring candidates running for office.
As Judge DuPont Continues to Battle Removal, Zambrano Orders Flagler Bench Again Shuffled
Flagler County will lose Family Judge R. Lee Smith to Putnam after less than two years and gain newly-minted Judge Chris France, among other changes caused by the DuPont affair.
For Life-Sentenced Murderer Paul Miller, Unexpected Glimmer of Hope As His Counsel Is Questioned
In a powerful argument based on new revelations that emerged today, Paul Miller’s attorney is arguing that the representation he got at trial was ineffective to the point that his conviction may never have happened.
C.J. Nelson Exonerated of Felony Child Abuse Charge in Epic Confrontation, Faces
Sentence on Misdemeanors
A jury found C.J. Nelson not guilty of felony child abuse in an incident in which he punched a 16-year-old girl, but found him guilty of two misdemeanor battery charges.
Sheriff Staly Orders Investigation Re-Opened in Flagler Courthouse Bailiffs’ Behavior
Staly issued the order three days after a FlaglerLive story detailed allegations of racial and sexual improprieties involving courthouse deputies and staff.
Levi Ovenshire, 19, Sentenced to 15 Years In Prison For Friend’s Attempted Murder in F-Section
Levi Ovenshire, 19, shot 19-year-old Marco Salazar in the back as the two were hanging out at 13 Fulton Place in Palm Coast last June 24. Ovenshire later spoke as if he’d been hallucinating.
Shake-Up in Chambers: At Flagler Courthouse, 3 Judges Intervene Over Allegations of Deputies’ Sexual and Racial Improprieties
Two bailiffs have been disciplined and reassigned out of the courthouse, bailiffs have a new supervisor, and one judge’s administrative assistant lost her job as a judge’s assistant as a result of the alleged improprieties.
Behind Closed Doors, Palm Coast Council Was Willing To Risk Big Loss Against McDonald Until Judge and Adjuster Set It Straight
Battles between Palm Coast government–the council and Jim Landon, the manager–and Dennis McDonald, the perennial critic, got so personal in a previous lawsuit, records show, that the city was willing to risk taxpayer money until it was forced to accept a settlement.
6 Years After Murdering Dana Mulhall, Paul Miller, 70, Claims Lawyer Failed Him By Not Invoking Stand Your Ground
Flagler Beach’s Paul Miller shot and killed his neighbor Dana Mulhall as Mulhall in a dispute over Miller’s barking dogs. Miller is contesting his life sentence and was back in court in Flagler today.
Palm Coast and Matanzas Golf Course Owners Reach Agreement, With Conditions
Palm Coast government has agreed to significantly code enforcement reduce its lien on the Matanzas golf course in exchange for a dismissal of all pending litigation.
Zambrano Orders Judge Scott DuPont to Clear Out of His Offices In Flagler and Putnam
Chief Judge Raul Zambrano’s order, delivered to DuPont by letter today, is as close to the firing of a judge short of a Supreme Court impeachment, and follows an investigation’s withering recommendation for removal.
Epic Child Abuse Case Fails Stand Your Ground Defense in Debacle of Witnesses
An unusual stand-your-ground case unfolded in Flagler court this morning over an allegation that a 39-year-old man punched a 16-year-old girl at Epic Theater in palm Coast last October.
Felony Counts Against Ex-Supervisor
Kim Weeks Back Up To 9 In Latest Twist
Six weeks before trial, the prosecution has re-filed against ex-Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks, bringing up the counts against her back to nine in a move to turn up the pressure and angle for a plea. Weeks is not biting.
In a First, Palm Coast Drug Dealer Is Indicted on 1st Degree Murder in Overdose Death of Savannah Deangelis
Joseph Colon, 34, of Palm Coast, is accused of selling the heroin and fentanyl that killed Savannah Deangelis, 23, moments later at her Grand Haven home last October.
“I’d Like To Stare At Him In the Eyes Now”
Serial Masked Armed Robber Sentenced To 30 Years as Victim Rebukes Him
A Terranova Restaurant owner in court today told castigated Charles Rushing-Griffen for the way he’d stared at her while robbing her at gunpoint in December.
Qualifications Commission Recommends Judge DuPont Removed, Calling Him “Reckless,” Untruthful and “Heavy Handed”
Judge Scott DuPont serves on Flagler’s and Putnam’s civil benches, and was facing a series of accusations that he’d acted wrongfully and recklessly as a judge and a candidate.
Facing Deportation, an Undocumented Immigrant Held at Flagler Jail Changes His Plea at Last Minute
The case of Palm Coast resident Filipino Francisco Justo underscores how the potential for deportation increases rather than decreases burdens on the judicial and penal systems.
Another Life Term For Paul Dykes as Lurid Child-Rape Case Ends, Absent Reversal on Appeal
For Palm Coast’s Paul Dykes, 21, the most immediate challenge is to contend with a brutal prison culture that makes prey of child sexual predators.
For 13th and 14th Felonies, George Wood Is Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
George G. Wood, 32, of Palm Coast was sentenced on an escape and firearm [possession charge, and still faces life in prison on an armed burglary charge he’s to be tried on later this month.
Chief Judge Has Discouraging News For Flagler’s Hope of Landing 2nd County Judge
Despite certifying Flagler for an additional county court judge in 2016 and recognizing a still-increasing workload last year the Supreme Court has ruled against certifying an additional judge this year.
War Of The Birds on Palm Coast’s Collingwood Lane Ends In Victory For Purple Martins
Neighbors on Collingwood Lane have been suing and battling each other for four years over two dozen bird houses. A judge has ruled in favor of the birds.
Paul Dykes Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole 2 Times Over For Child Rape
A jury had found Dykes guilty on 24 counts, including raping a 1-year-old, in December, making the life sentences mandatory, and leaving little room for the judge or lawyers to maneuver.
For Kim Weeks, Nothing Left To Try Against 5 Remaining Felony Counts But a Trial
A circuit judge has denied ex-Flagler Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks’s motion to throw out the search warrant that led to evidence of allegedly illegally recorded conversations.
In Last-Minute Reversal, Judge Agrees To More Lenient Plea in Maria Howell Case
After rejecting the deal last month, Circuit Judge Dennis Craig agreed to 18 months in prison for Maria Howell, who’d faced trial and possibly 15 years in prison over a molestation charge.
Bobby Gore Sentenced to 15 Years In Shooting Death of His Son in Flagler Beach as Judge Rebukes “Family Culture” of Firearms
Bobby Earl Gore, 74, shot his son Lucas, 31, last April at their Flagler Beach home, allegedly after Lucas had terrorized and humiliated him. A judge did not feel too much lenience was required in the sentence.
Why Is Judge Craig Looking to Crucify Maria Howell?
Twice prosecutors and the defense agreed to a deal in the molestation case involving Maria Howell. Twice Judge Craig rejected the deal. The case is now headed for trial.
Flagler’s Opioid Crisis Seen From Those Fighting It: A Severe Lack of Treatment Beds, Drug Court at Capacity, Jail as a Waiting Room
The most comprehensive picture of the opioid crisis in Flagler County came to light today in a gathering of Flagler County judges, top cops, medical, social and government services. Here are the details.
Prosecution Intends To Try Paul Dykes Twice More Even as He Faces Life in Prison
Paul Dykes was found guilty of directing the rape of a 1-year-old child last month, but prosecutors want to try him two more times on related charges, they told a circuit judge today.
Charges or Sanctions Against Judge Scott DuPont Up to Commission as Hearing Ends
The final hearing in the year-long case alleging misconduct against Circuit Court Judge Scott DuPont ended Tuesday, with a decision expected sometime in the next two months.
25 Years Later, a Palm Coast Murder Is Relived in Flagler Courtroom as Killer Seeks Release
Michael Renaud, now 44, was 17 when he murdered Margaret Rogers at a house on Point Pleasant Drive in Palm Coast in 1992. Today he was back in court, arguing for his early release.