Had Christopher Demon Lang’s lawyer not noticed that the cocaine amounts he was charged with possessing were higher than those found in his home, he could have faced a much stiffer prison sentence.
Cops/Courts
Deputy Responsible for False Arrest of Dakota Ward Is Suspended For 3 Days as Investigation Concludes
James Gore, a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy who two weeks ago was disciplined in an unrelated matter, was suspended for three days without pay and charged with “unsatisfactory or incompetent performance” as a result of his investigation that led to the false arrest of an 18-year-old Bunnell resident late last month.
Father Accused of Smacking and Suffocating 9-Year-Old Son For Talking Back During Chores
Joshua Stevens, 31, a resident of Prospect Lane in Palm Coast, allegedly struck his child five times and closed his nose and mouth when the child talked back while mopping the floor.
Ethics Commission Unanimously Approves $6,200 Fine Against Sheriff Manfre, and Public Censure
State ethics commissioners voted without discussion to impose the fine and censure. Manfre has vowed to keep fighting the charges dating back to the early part of his tenure in 2013.
Palm Coast Man, 23, Accused of Sexually Assaulting Two Teen Girls at Long Creek Preserve
Christopher Hollinger, 23, of 43 Forsythe Lane, is at the Flagler County Jail on $270,000 bond on accusations of statutory rape and other charges stemming from an alleged March 15 incident.
Pot-Possession Decriminalization Could Advance in Flagler As Part of Broader Civil Citation Program
Not just the possession of small amounts of pot, but such offenses as battery and criminal mischief could be de-criminalized and shifted to civil citations in an approach that will be studied by a newly formed committee.
Survey Puts Homeless Total in Flagler-Palm Coast at 104, But Undercount Likely
The 2016 census of the homeless population in Flagler-Palm Coast was a dramatic decline from 2015, but also very likely an under-count. The majority of homeless people who have no shelter at all are in Palm Coast.
For 2nd Time in 2 Months, County’s Emergency Communications Falter, and Agencies Chafe
A problem at a tower on John Anderson Highway hampered sheriff’s deputies’ ability to communicate for an hour Monday evening. The county is describing the issue as minor while Palm Coast and the sheriff’s office see it as more emblematic of a recurring problem.
Anna Pehota’s Defense Takes Fresh Turn Down Memory Lapse in Husband’s Killing
An unexpected statement by Pehota, 76, who faces a 2nd degree murder charge, that she doesn’t remember her interrogation opened the way for a defense on psychological grounds, and a request for a delay in her trial, initially scheduled for next week.
Car Rear-Ends Wadsworth-Bound School Bus With 19 Students on Board in P Section
A car rear-ended the Elk school bus at 8:15 this morning at Pine Grove Drive and Pittman Drive in Palm Coast. The driver of the car was injured, but none of the 19 students aboard the bus nor the driver were injured, a school district spokesperson said.