October's mug shots from around the First Coast
Florida Crime News
Suspects have not been convicted of the crimes described, and photos were provided by area sheriff's offices.
Source: Crime
3 years after father's unsolved slaying, Jacksonville victim advocate pushing for support group.
Florida Crime News
As Ryan Backmann and his wife got ready to head to a friend?s home Saturday to watch the LSU-Florida football game, Backmann paused for a moment as he recalled being jolted while preparing for the same event three years ago.
Source: Crime
Putnam jail escapees will die behind bars after murder
Florida Crime News
Doni Ray Brown and Timothy Wayne Fletcher are set to die behind bars after escaping from them in a 2009 Putnam County jailbreak that escalated into a slaying.
On Friday Circuit Judge Wendy Berger in St. Johns County sentenced Fletcher, 28, to death after he was previously convicted of murder, escape, auto theft, home invasion and robbery.
Earlier in the day Brown, 26, pleaded no contest to similar charges and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole by Circuit Judge Carlos E. Mendoza in Putnam County.
Source: Crime
Stand Your Ground task force meets in Jacksonville
Florida Crime News
The Florida Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection is meeting at Edward Waters College as one of a series statewide to gather information on Florida?s controversial Stand Your Ground statute.
The public can comment at 1 p.m. at the meeting in the Adams-Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex at 1859 Kings Road, Jacksonville.
The next and final task force meeting will be in Pensacola. Then its members will review the 10,000 emails, 550 telephone calls, 60 comment cards and 140 people who have testified so far.
The Times-Union will be updating this story.
Source: Crime
St. Johns man arrested on sex charges with juvenile in exchange for drugs
Florida Crime News
A 48-year-old St. Johns County man has been charged with having sex with a juvenile victim who investigators said was given drugs in exchange.
John Allen Clark Jr., 48, of the 1900 block of Powell Road was charged with sexual battery on a victim 12 to 17, four counts of incest and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The arrest followed a week-long investigation after the victim said the attacks began in 2009.
Powell was arrested Friday and was being held in the St. Johns County jail in lieu of $700,000 bail.
Source: Crime
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office rehires 10 laid-off officers
Florida Crime News
The Jacksonville Sheriff?s Office is rehiring 10 sworn police officers who previously served with the agency and were part of the reduction in force in 2011, according to the department.
Forty-eight police officers were laid off in addition to cuts made to civilian ranks. In 2012 a total of 74 police positions were completely eliminated.
The 10 positions are open as the result of normal attrition, such as retirement and resignation.
The rehired officers will go to patrol and enforcement.
Source: Crime
Florida Morning: FBI investigating fraudulent letters; ethics commission hits Rivera
Florida Politics
FBI INVESTIGATING FRAUDULENT LETTERS: The FBI confirmed Wednesday it is investigating fraudulent letters that falsely tell eligible Florida voters they may no longer be U.S. citizens and that they could go to prison if they cast a ballot in the Nov. 6 election. Tampa Bay Times https://tinyurl.com/8gwdk5n
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Source: PolitiJax
Daughter of beaten 70-year-old Green Cove Springs woman charged
Florida Crime News
Police have arrested the daughter of a 70-year-old woman found on the floor of her Green Cove Springs home two days after she appeared to have been beaten with a hammer.
?It really is amazing that she survived this,? said detective James Acres, one of the officers called to check on Diane Knapper at her Spring Street house Oct. 17.
Blood spattered the walls, ceiling and floor of the kitchen where she was found when police climbed through an open window.
Source: Crime