They are two of the most lurid, high-profile, long-lasting cases on the felony docket of Flagler County’s court: Keith Johansen, 39, faces a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of his wife Brandi Celenza. Deviaun Antriel Toler, 29, faces two counts of first-degree aggravated child abuse. Life in prison is at stake for the relatively young defendants in both cases. And today, both cases were set for trial the week of October 25.
trials
Life in Prison for Leon Wiley for Attempting to ‘Erase’ Step-Daughter Through 6 Years of Depraved Abuse and Sadism
55-year-old Leon Norman Wiley Jr.’s three-hour sentencing hearing today included victim impact statements of shattering details from the step-daughter he’d raped, impregnated and pimped out since she was 12, from her mother, and even from Wiley’s own parents, who had no illusions about the crimes he’d committed, though they asked for some mercy.
Leon Wiley Admits He Raped His Minor Step-Daughter for Years But Says Jury Was Wrong to Convict Him
Leon Norman Wiley Jr., 54, was found guilty by a jury of raping his stepdaughter since she was 12, but he argued today that he was owed a new trial because none of the abuse took place in Flagler County. The judge rejected the argument. Wiley is to be sentenced Friday to what may amount to life in prison.
One Man Rapes a 13-Year-Old Girl and Walks Free. Another Raped a 16-Year-Old Girl and Is Serving 12 Years in Prison.
Bo Jeremiah Sirrine, 23, and Tonda Royal, 55, once shared a cell at the Flagler County jail. They also shared a predilection for underage girls and were both charged with raping girls–a 13 year old, in Sirrine’s case, a 16 year old, in Royal’s case. Sirrine walked out of the Flagler jail a free man weeks ago. Royal is serving 12 years in state prison.
Keith Johansen’s Defense Wants to Keep Out Evidence of His Racist and Sadistic Threats Before Shooting Death of Wife Brandi Celenza
The defense for Palm Coast’s Keith Johansen, 36, facing a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of his wife Brandi Celenza in 2018, wants to keep out of his trial surveillance video that shows him repeatedly threatening, insulting and demeaning Celenza, using racist, misogynistic and homophobic language. Today, the defense lost a bid to keep out hours of Johansen’s interviews with detectives.
Jury Finds Benjamin Allen Not Guilty in Shooting Death of Elijah Rizvan, Reigniting Questions About “The Lying Three”
After deliberating just under two and a half hours today, the all-white jury of four women and two men found Benjamin Allen not guilty of the murder by gunshot of 17-year-old Elijah Rizvan two years ago on a W-Section street during a drug deal.
Benjamin Allen Sobs, ‘It’s Pointless,’ as Jury Watches His Interview Before His Arrest for Murder
In the last day of trial before closing arguments, the jury watched a 56-minute interview between Benjamin Allen, who is accused of murder, and detectives, in the presence of his parents. He maintained his innocence, and broke down once the handcuffs were on.
A Day of Testimony Unravels Three Witnesses’ Fleeing and Eluding Questions in Benjamin Allen Murder Trial
The three witnesses who were in the car with Benjamin Allen the evening Elijah Rizvan was shot and killed testified today in Allen’s trial on a first-degree murder charge, revealing to what extent they each lied and eluded both detectives’ questions then and attorneys’ questions today.
Benjamin Allen’s Lawyers Drill Holes in His Accusers’ Stories, Sowing Grave Doubts About Who Killed Elijah Rizvan
The prosecution in the trial of Benjamin Allen, 18, who is accused of murdering Elijah Rizvan in Palm Coast’s W-Section in 2019, had a bad day Tuesday as its witnesses proved more helpful to the defense, undermining the claim that Allen was the shooter.
Jury Seated in Trial of Benjamin Allen, Now 18, in 1st-Degree Murder of Elijah Rizvan in W-Section 2 Years Ago
Benjamin Allen was 16 when he was accused of shooting dead Elijah Rizvan outside a house in the W Section in July 2019. He is being tried as an adult and faces life in prison if convicted. An all-white jury was empaneled today.