Murder charges dropped against men accused in man's traffic death

By Rachel Revehl • rrevehl@news-press.com • June 4, 2010

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100604/CRIME/100604018/Murder-charges-dropped-against-men-accused-in-man-s-traffic-death

06/04/10


Media release from Lee Bushong :

Mateo Matias on July 23, 2009 was driving on Palm Beach Boulevard         when he was struck and killed by a deputy sheriff. The deputy was responding to  a pursuit where an alleged unoccupied residential burglary occurred.

Two people were arrested - the people the deputies were chasing - for the death of Matias. However, the burglary needed to be substantiated. The homeowner, who moments before carried a conversation with one of the suspects in his driveway, told deputies he could not identify the people at the traffic stop as the burglars. He later was unable to make an identification from a photographic lineup - a lineup that is now missing. The vehicle description of the truck deputies stopped was similar in color and size to the one the witness reported, but had a blue license plate where the suspect's had an orange one.

The burglary HAD to be closed by an arrest in order to justify the chase, and to permit the arrest of the driver for the vicarious death of Mateo Matias. Otherwise, the death would be the responsibility of the Sheriff's Office.

The first HUGE problem here is why, just now, is the lack of identification and the missing evidence brought to light? The case will be dropped on Monday according to the SAO spokesperson and the charges nolle-prossed. After all this time, roughly a year, am I, more importantly you, to believe nothing was ever sent from the State Attorney's Office to the Lee County Sheriff's Office regarding the lack of evidence? Of course not! The State Attorney's Office is staffed with professional, educated prosecutors, and such glaring holes would have been spotted immediately. Murder is the most serious charge regarding the most heinous crime. A prosecutor would have immediately picked up on the lack of evidence, missing evidence, and non-corroborating, conflicting testimony and alerted the Sheriffs Office early on - most likely in the form of an Additional Information Request (AIR). This should have been looked into by the Sheriff's Office the very moment the SAO got an inkling that a problem existed with the investigation. The arrest was made on July 23, 2009. And we just learning of this today? Ask yourself why that is?

In cases where the SAO feels there is lacking evidence, testimony, or supporting documents, the State sends an AIR - Additional Information Request. It's generated on

behalf of the prosecuting attorney via his or her investigator and sent to Damary Glover at the Sheriff's Office. She logs them and forwards them to the deputy for follow up. There are records, and I encourage everyone to request them.

But, there is something even more troubling here!

Major Jim Jones is the commander over the Major Crimes Unit, which includes the homicide unit - that unit from which Adrian Powell and David Newsome's murder charges originated. As that commander, Major Jones allowed two people - who records show could not be identified and for which probable cause did not exist - to be arrested for murder and their civil rights infringed upon. The Major reviews each and every case report and arrest affidavit stemming from the investigative efforts of his bureau. How is it then that he permitted the arrest of Powell and Newsome for murder despite the fact positive identification of the two could not be made, not once, but TWICE. The arrest was made in light of no identification at the scene or in a photographic lineup - the line up which is now missing. Powell and Newsome were in a different vehicle with a different tag with different colors than what was reported by the witness. Yet Major Jones authorized the arrest to be made. Maybe it was because a deputy was involved in the accidental death of Matias that he wanted an immediate arrest made - scapegoats if you will.

And that leads into another issue. Lee County Sheriff's Office policy (operations manual) prevents chases in all circumstances except for VIOLENT, FORCIBLE Felonies.

Why? Because chasing a car is deadly - as we see in this event. But the deputy who struck Matias was following orders. The Bravo District Commander and the Watch Commanders on duty that day are solely responsible for authorizing and ending the pursuit. That's by policy also. So why did the Bravo District Commander feel it was necessary to go outside of the policy of the sheriff's office (operations manual) and permit a chase, which is essentially the same thing as pointing a gun at someone and pulling the trigger - deadly force is deadly force. And used for a crime where no violence occurred? Really? No one was shot, threatened, beaten etc.

So we know there was not a VIOLENT FORCIBLE FELONY to have occurred. But the deputy who struck and unfortunately killed Matias was following orders of a commander who authorized the chase and thereby permitted the use of deadly force.

The way I see it is Major Jones and the Sheriff wanted to keep this a secret and make an arrest - a cover-up - because command level officers authorized the chase and therefore are responsible for permitting it. The authorization resulted in the death of an innocent person. But instead of admitting wrongdoing, they rushed to make an arrest to deflect the negative press associated with the chase. See, once the arrest was made, the end justified the means. These cover-ups are the very type of corruption I stand against.

And so two people were arrested to cover up the mistakes of the Sheriff's Office commanders.

My fear now is that the deputy who struck Matias will become Mike Scott's next victim for following his superiors orders that unfortunate day - Command level orders that resulted in an unnecessary death. Orders such as Major Jones permitting the arrest and violation of constitutionally protected rights of two Lee County residents.

Don't get me wrong -1 am not championing Powell and Newsome. I am not saying that Powell and Newsome did no wrong. It's pretty clear that running from police is a crime and they should be charged and tried appropriately. But they should not have been arrested frivolously for murder because of someone's attempt to cover up a mistake and/or deflect community outrage. No one should have been arrested to justify the pursuit. Powell and Newsome should not have been arrested for murder in which probable cause could not be found

Probable cause is defined as that level of belief, developed by articulated facts, circumstances and evidence that would permit a reasonable person of sound mind to believe that the person charged probably committed the crime.

In this case, where is the probable cause for the murder? The burglary had to be proven in order to substantiate the murder charge. The murder charge had to stick to absolve the Sheriffs Office of wrongdoing. But different vehicles, different tags,missing evidence, inconsistent testimony - none of this leads to probable cause - yet Major Jones allowed it, and Mike Scott condoned it. How convenient, too, that evidence just happens to go missing?

I cannot sit by and watch Mike Scott fire another deputy for following the orders of superiors in order to cover-up his and his administration's errors and culpability in this death. Mike Scott is the only one accountable for this.

Mike Scott prides himself that he is in-tuned with the Lee County Sheriff's Office. So then, he would have known all along about the lack of identification in this case and would have known that it was a bad arrest. And if he claims he didn't, he needs to hold the appropriate Bureau Commander accountable for the cover-up. Its called accountability.

It is my belief that an outside investigation into this matter is warranted.  Rest assured that Mike Scott will hang this on a deputy's neck to answer for the decisions of an administrative command officer. The sheriff has a history of protecting himself. I call for FDLE to conduct an investigation into this matter.

What lengths will the sheriff's office go to protect its own upper staff? If we cannot trust Mike Scott to run his office with integrity, and to make lawful arrests, can we really trust him to conduct his internal affairs properly? Are we going to simply put him on the honor system? Again, an outside agency needs to investigate this matter.Both for Mateo, for Powell and Newsome, and for the involved deputies.

The system was built on the belief that we all have rights and that those rights will be preserved by those entrusted to protect them. It's unfortunate that those rights are treated so haphazardly here in Lee County.

Thank you,

Lee Bushong

Please visit Lee Bushong's website where he has an open door policy and you can ask any question and get an honest answer..

 www.leebushong.com

 

02/27/10


The Lee County Sheriff's Office has been
selected as a flagship agency by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.

"CALEA flagship agencies are really the cream of the
crop," said CALEA program manager Steve Mitchell.
"They have clean assessments and have something
to bring to the table. In fact, they are the ones we
want all other agencies to emulate."

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is one of 22 agencies
nationwide to receive the current flagship
designation and will receive its certificate on March
27th in Dallas.


So what is CALEA ?

The CALEA® Flagship Agency Program is designed to acknowledge CALEA Accredited public safety agencies that have demonstrated success in the accreditation process.  The program also serves to provide other agencies seeking accreditation with examples of “best practices” on how to address compliance, policy development, file maintenance, and other issues relating to the accreditation process. 

A Flagship Agency must meet the following minimum criteria: 

• Must have a minimum of two previous consecutive accreditation awards.
• Must not have conditions or noncompliance issues on most recent past award.
• Must not have noncompliance issues, or be recommended for conditions on current assessment.
• Current Assessment Report must have limited file maintenance and applied discretion issues.
• Current Assessment Report must not have issues involving life, safety, and security standards.
• Must not currently be affected by issues that detract from the tenets or goals of accreditation and/or the Flagship Program.

MUST NOT HAVE ISSUES INVOLVING LIFE, SAFETY AND SECURITY STANDARDS !!!!!
The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Programs is to:

 " Improve the delivery of public safety services ", primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence. 

To Improve The Delivery of Public Safety Services ???

This means stop killing people .... or you'll will lose your accreditation !



01/20/10

Publix Super-Market hires foreign workers

Says local residents don’t want the jobs
  At a time when Lee County’s unemployment rate is almost 14 percent and about 38,000 residents are jobless, Publix is paying people from South America to work at some of its Southwest Florida supermarkets.

For the last three years, Publix has hired hundreds of Peruvians and Brazilians for its stores in south Fort Myers and Naples during tourist season because the company says it can’t find locals to fill those spots.. Many Southwest Florida jobseekers and the people who help them disagree.

 
Although numbers aren’t broken down by county, there are 7,756 J1 visa-holders in Florida, said U.S. State Department spokeswoman Darlene Kirk. The department calls it an “Exchange Visitor Program,” allowing foreign college students to “become directly involved in the daily life of the people of the United States through travel and temporary work.” Publix doesn’t reciprocate in the exchange.

“With 14 percent unemployment in Lee County, Publix can’t find any local Americans interested in working part time? Give me a break,” Larkin said. “This can hardly have been the intent of the new Kennedy administration in 1961 when it instituted this program for cultural exchanges with Central and South American nations which were, at that time, predominantly military dictatorships.”


Publix re-evaluates hiring needs every year, Patten said. “We will revisit this for 2011.’’
South Seas Island Resort on Captiva has about five J1 visa workers doing jobs locals don’t want, said Joe Palmer, human resources director.  

Karen.Bivens@Publix.com; Sue.Ward@Publix.com; Allan.Romano@Publix.com; Nick.Collins@Publix.com

These are the e-mails for the district hiring managers for publix. Please let them know what you think


In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do
affects someone else - even their job . So, after reading this email to friends and families and let's get on the right track .

My grandson likes Hershey's candy . I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now . I do not buy it any more . My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico now .   I have switched to Crest . You have to read the labels on everything .

This past weekend I was at the supermarket. (Can be true for any store.)  I needed 60 W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets . I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off brand labeled, "Everyday Value . " I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats - they were the same except for the price . The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in Mexico and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland , Ohio .

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here .

So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets . . . Yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!

(We should have awakened a decade ago . . . . . . )

Let's get with the program . . . . Help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U . S . A .

( Don't just pass this on and hope someone else will do it ... Next time you shop, take the few minutes and check where the items came from, a few minutes could save a few dollars on your shopping bill...)

We all know that everyone has financial problems right now and some worst them others, Some that maybe don't want everyone knowing their personal business and we can appreciate that without judging, At least I would hope so.

So here is the quick version of my story, My unemployment ran out after working sometimes 2 jobs for over 35 years, and being unemployed for the last 2 years .

So after my many years of service I applied for assistance and was denied for cash and medical , However ; I did get $165.00 in Food Stamps.

This week, There was an error on the EBT card balance and I needed to call and correct the issue.

(For anyone who doesn't know about the EBT card In Florida it is a American flag draped debit card and most every state uses it for WIC, welfare cash deposit and food stamp deposits.. The card may look different and the bank may be different )
You can google image your state EBT card..

Back to my story: I made the call to customer service and Guess what I called; INDIA

This is important to me because I am someone that would take a job in call center and the EBT card services are being sub-contracted to low wage labor out of this country when We need those jobs..

Do the right thing; Do Not patronize companies that use foreign labor, Do Not use self check out lines in the stores and take the time to look when shopping !

Here are just a few companies that use foreign labor; Some that were Bailed out :

Ford Motor Credit- Central America
America On Line ( AOL ) - India
J.P Morgan / Chase Bank- India
J.C Penny's - India
Microsoft- India
3M - France



November 29, 2009

 Open letter to Sheriff Mike Scott

Terry Eberle
Teberle@news-press.com

Dear Sheriff Scott,

You have been saying a few things about us the past few weeks.

You accused us of bias, agendas, inaccuracies. You even made it sound personal.

Let me assure you that it is not personal. We both have a job to do.

Neither is easy. You have to keep the streets safe. We have to watch how you do it and how you spend taxpayers' money.

Both of us must be held to a higher standard. We both are human and as humans we make mistakes. It is how we handle our mistakes that we will be judged.

You are acting like a politician. We had hoped for more. You blame the media for all your problems. And now you threaten anyone who disagrees with you.

"I have the right to pick and choose who I talk to, don't forget that."

This was not said just to us, but to all the gathered media after the Nov. 18 union vote. We all heard you loud and clear.

You do have that right and we will fight to protect your right to say what you want to whom you want.

But, we expect so much more.

Your opinions, policies and actions as chief law enforcement officer in our community are of utmost public interest.

If you exclude certain media, you are excluding the citizens.

You told the Naples Daily News that we need you more than you need us. Still, you talk constantly about us. Still, you ask to run guest columns in our newspaper. You still want to get your message out to Southwest Florida.

Let's both admit we need each other.

I first met you at our editorial board meeting when we were doing our election endorsements. You impressed us. We strongly endorsed you as the best candidate.

Then, there was that Sarah Palin rally and that Barack Hussein Obama statement. I am sure you were caught up in the moment.

You probably wish you'd handled it a little differently. Maybe even think it was a mistake. Heck, we all make mistakes.

You became a little more distant.

Then there was the headline. That headline from last February you keep bringing up.

You and I talked about it. I explained it, I told you I understood your concern and I know you understand.

But that doesn't make for a good sound bite.

And you persist in bringing it up 10 months later.

The headline had quotes around 'good guy.' The News-Press did not say the San Carlos Park man shot and killed by a deputy was a good guy. We would have no idea. No one in the sheriff's department would talk. We got only one side. We didn't know what went down that day.

It was a neighbor who knew him who called him a "good guy." We believed the deputies were in harm's way. We didn't know if he had a gun, knife or cannon. We wish we had a little more. The readers wish they had a little more.

Then, there was your former friend Dick Spence, a convicted felon, and the union elections and all those e-mails.

There were tons of public-records requests and we went back and forth.

You would not talk to us. Then you would. Then you wouldn't. And then you wanted it all in writing.

That concerned us because we couldn't look you in the eye and see your face as you answered.

We didn't know who would be answering. We couldn't ask follow-up questions and we couldn't react to your responses, nor you to us.

You worried we would misquote you, or take it all out of context. We offered to video it all and run it online without editing. That's more than TV does. We expect more.

You were just cleared by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement of any of any criminal conduct. Congratulations.

I just want to remind you that we never accused you of any criminal conduct. It was two former law enforcement officers and one current one who did. And there were four complaints, not 124, as you have said.

We had no one in that fight. We covered it and we didn't take sides and we played the story on the top of the front page where it belonged.

Sheriff, you have too many more important things to do than to battle us.

Let's move forward knowing that we still will be asking questions and still will be holding you to a higher standard.

We pledge to be fair and, yes, we will make mistakes. As will you. But they will not be out of anger or because of any agenda.

We really want you to succeed because it is critical for the growth and well-being of our community.

Sincerely,

Terry Eberle

Look at what is happening to our country :



           

Remember the movie: 1984 ; With Big Brother watching , His face was on every TV, his voice on every radio, Cameras at every street corner, No privacy or rights in Their own homes, They all wore the same cloths and did the same things and Protesters were ratted on by their neighbors and even family to the government and when those who rebelled they had something bad happen to them ? The government chose who lived or died, Who worked and where ,Who had children and the government chose their future for them, from birth they were micro chipped and data based, eventually molded to the perfect citizen. Parents feared them ( DCF/ CPS)..

Was that a movie of fiction or reality ? I see him everywhere, I hear him everywhere, I look up and around me now, I feel a sense of insecurity and lack of privacy, There is fear in every word said !

Am I imagining this or living this ?
I would like to watch it again and see how it's going to end. 

Is Obama spreading  socialism in our schools ?

No; He wasn't but had we " Trusted " him, This subject would of never came up

The president wants to push a "socialist" agenda on children.Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer issued a press release Tuesday headlined, "Greer Condemns Obama's Attempt to Indoctrinate Students." In it, Greer says, "As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology" and "I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda.Greer predicted that children will be "forced" to watch the speech and said the president was " Bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power."

      

         

President Barack Obama has a message for students.

But our kids in Lee and Collier Counties Florida won’t hear it in school.

That was the decision both school districts made Thursday in anticipation of the president’s speech to students, which is scheduled to be broadcast to schools across the country at noon on Tuesday September 8 th..

“As far as I am concerned, this is not civics education — it gives the appearance of creating a cult of personality,” said Oklahoma state Sen. Steve Russell. “This is something you’d expect to see in North Korea or in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.”

Opponents of the speech said children should not be forced to listen to a presidential message. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer released a blistering statement on the party’s Web site, condemning Obama’s “use of taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America’s children to his socialist agenda.”

“While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda,” he wrote. “The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President’s agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President’s initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates.”

Despite the rhetoric, two of Florida’s larger districts, Miami-Dade and Hillsborough, plan to have classes watch the speech. Students whose parents object will not have to watch.

Campaign tactics back as Obama presses health care
Aug 15,2009

BIG SKY, Mont. (AP) - President Barack Obama is using political tactics and rhetorical devices honed in his White House campaign to regain the upper hand in the health care debate over increasingly vocal and organized critics. In person and over the Internet, Obama is trying to counter intense public skepticism over Democratic plans to overhaul the health care system. It's his top domestic priority and arguably his most challenging political fight yet



Colonial BancGroup shut down by federal officials
Aug 15, 1:59 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Real estate lender Colonial BancGroup Inc. has been shut down by federal officials in the biggest U.S. bank failure this year.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which was appointed receiver of the Montgomery, Ala.-based Colonial and its about $25 billion in assets, said the failed bank's 346 branches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Texas will reopen at the normal times starting on Saturday as offices of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based BB&T.


Farmers Losing Crops to Endangered Fish
Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Farmers in California, they're losing their land, crops, and their livelihood, all because of a 2-inch fish. Ainsley Earhardt brings us this special investigation.
California's Central Valley is considered by many to be the richest and most productive farmland in the nation. But this land is being threatened by the small, harmless-looking minnow called the delta smelt.
Recently, it landed on the endangered species list, causing a federal court to shut down vital pumps to farmers to help preserve it.

REP. DEVIN NUNES (R-CALIF.): You're spending $1 trillion and you will not put in one provision that would create — save 60,000 jobs. This is an insult to my constituency.

What we have today is a manmade brought on by laws, passed by Congress, to where we're starting the breadbasket of the world and starving it of water to save little fish, which is outrageous.
Representative Nunes estimate 37,000 jobs have been lost due to the smelt issue and that number is rising higher by that day. In one town in California, unemployment is up to an astonishing 40 percent.

PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ACTOR/COMEDIAN

RODRIGUEZ: This has changed not only — this has not changed my political point of view; it has changed everyone around me.

We have always been lifelong devoted Democrats. I supported Mr. Obama. You know, I'm part of the "I love you, Mr. Obama" group. But I — that patina is starting to fade. I want — I want my lover to call me.

There's 80,000 of us over here hoping to get some precipitation here.

HANNITY: Listen...

RODRIGUEZ: We need to continue to farm, and we need that water open badly. I appeal to Mr. Ken Salazar, the interior secretary, to please land this time, talk to us, come see us, look at the faces that you're affecting.

HANNITY: Listen, Paul, this is serious. These are 80,000 jobs. You're right; the price of food is going to go up. This is one area in the country — for those that don't know this area around the Fresno area of California — where you can grow just about anything. It is some of the most...

RODRIGUEZ: Let me remind — let me remind everyone that fish, they have powerful lobbies, but they don't vote. Fish do not vote: we do, and we're going to remember this. We need those federal pumps open yesterday. We need this waste desperately. This is so UN-American. They didn't put into consideration our lives. We live there !

So what will be next ?

Concentration camps for those who dis-agree
with this administration ?

Riot Control and SWAT at all Town Hall meetings ?

A Civil War ?


Now the Patriot Act will be taken to extremes all over the country,
Any American can lose the right to privacy and be considered  A
THREAT .

You don't like the Health Care Plan? You are Un- American !
You don't like the President ? You are a Racist !
You don't want Cap & Trade ? You are Unpatriotic !
You are a complete Nut ? You are Nancy Pelosi !

Say your Good-Byes to Freedom...

Lee County Judge Edward Volz Jr. sentenced Mary Grodin...

Finally: She Cried  !

Not for the death of her daughter but her freedom...

09/22/09
Lee County Judge Edward Volz Jr. sentenced Mary Grodin to just less than 13 years in prison followed by just more than two years on probation during a sentencing hearing September 21st.

In 2000, The SAO made a deal with Mary Grodin that if she pleaded guilty to only child abuse she would received a 15-year sentence if she testified against her husband, Justin Grodin, in the death of her 11-month-old daughter, Gretchen.
In April, The SAO agreed to amend her plea agreement so she could spend the remaining six years of her 15-year sentence on probation for her role in the murder of Gretchen.

But Thank God; Judge Edward Volz Jr. never signed off on the amended deal - and he showed Monday he didn't approve.

"She was very upset - she cried," said Grodin's attorney, Scot Goldberg. " .

On Aug. 31, Mary Grodin was supposed to get out of jail, she thought, starting a new life of freedom.

But Thankfully Judge Volz threw everyone off by continuing the sentencing until September 21, 2009, telling attorneys that day he wasn't sure he would agree to the amended plea agreement.

In the sentencing order Volz wrote for Justin Grodin, he makes clear he believes Mary Grodin is responsible for Gretchen's killing. He gave her sentence "moderate weight" in sending her husband to prison for life.

"The facts of this case reflect that Mary Grodin also bears culpability for the death of the victim," Volz wrote. "Ms. Grodin has received a comparatively short sentence despite her role in the victim's death."

Assistant State Attorney Anthony Kunasek said after the  hearing he agreed to the amendment because He thought Mary Grodin's testimony was key to the conviction


At the least Judge Volz did try for some sort of Justice with his hands being tied , I'm just so angry that this happened , 9 years we waited to see justice, Gretchen would be 10, Just starting school after a summer break, She would have friends & teachers that would of protected her more than her own mother ever did..

I commend Judge Volz , However, had the State Charged her correctly , This would of never of happened !

I didn't know Gretchen, But she deserved better & our SAO let her down & If our SAO ever comes near my kids ever again, They'll see a Mothers Rage, Like no other, I Protect my kids always....

This was a Mockery of Justice for that Baby......The Lee County State Attorney is the worst Scum ever...Everything in this county is a felony to start with, Then these scumbags come to you with a deal, lesser charge if you accept a plea deal, "That's the Dance " Said Kelly Worchester in 2007...This is a fact not speculation, Out of her mouth and backed up by Charlie Green.

I have watched them for years in those court rooms, It looks like an auction not a justice system, The attorneys haggle back and fourth about Plea Deals, They Threaten defendants into the deal..Yet this time They'll let a Murder out of jail faster than some traffic tickets.

Kelley Worchester:  I hope to God you see that Babies face everywhere you look ...You disgust me , You Slummy Plea Dealer , You tied Judge Volz's Hands with your Wheeling and Dealing ; As always , You have destroyed so many Lives and Now the memory and Justice of Gretchen

Remember Me , I'll never forget you or that innocent Baby

08/31/09

Today signals a new chance at life for Mary Grodin.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2000, to a charge of child abuse and after nearly a decade of waiting for her husband to go to trial for killing her 11-month-old daughter, Gretchen, she will be sentenced today by Lee Circuit Judge Edward Volz Jr.

The plea agreement, amended earlier this year, calls for Grodin to get out of custody as early as today and serve the last five years of a 15-year sentence on probation.

"I think it's going to be a challenge for her," said Scot Goldberg, her attorney. "I think she's got some fears about getting out - there's some trepidation."

"There are so many things we take for granted that she doesn't have - skills that she hasn't been taught for the last 9 years," he said. "She's got to carry a lot of guilt for the death of her daughter. She's carrying a lot of baggage coming out."

Just like the trash bag she carried with her daughters body in it ?

This system makes people sick to their stomachs, there are so many different standards that it is disgusting, Repeat offenders on the streets and first time offenders in prisons or county jails..

Go to www.leeclerk.org, look up Mark Joseph Serena, Gregory Scott Serena and Dominique Williams, They have several pages of crimes including with Firearms, all on State Probation, never VOPed, All have open cases now and several cases with No Information or Nolle Prossed...

Give me a break, Who are they connected too ???

They have been getting off with slaps on the wrist just like Mary Grodin, There is no way the average person would get away with these crimes..Research each case and see that the same judges are listed and just for Giggles, Look at their pictures; Mark looks like Steve Russell, Greg looks like Mike Scott with hair and Dominique must look like someone in the justice system, It just to coincidental for me..

Kelly Worchester makes a deal with the devil and a mockery of the justice system....

Not one tear dropped for her daughter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Worchester  modified the Plea deal to set a murdering Mom Mary Grodin Free to get her to testify against her husband Justin Grodin, Who would of been found guilty without it.
In exchange for her testimony, Mary Grodin will be released from jail serving only 9 years and will get 5 years probation...

Gretchen Grodin, 11 months old, was found buried in a shallow grave in south Fort Myers in May 2000.

On April 26, 2000, Grodin was home with the baby when he called his wife Mary, who was at work, she had testified Tuesday. When she got home, she found her husband attempting CPR, but the girl was dead.

The next day, they buried Gretchen, wrapped in a blanket and garbage bag,  in south Fort Myers. The couple, who were on the run from Arizona authorities, took a bus to Seattle, where they were arrested about a week later.

They did it together, No one knows their child like a mother, She is more guilty of murder than he, It was her job to protect her child...

So will Mary divorce Justin or take out life insurance ??

Here is an old quote from Kelly Worchester:

From January to June 2007 , 1505 felony cases ended in forced pleas and 49 went to trial while 5856 misdemeanor cases ended in forced pleas and 45 went to trial according to Charlie Green Clerk of Courts for Lee county.

Kelly Worcester of the Felony head of the State Attorneys office said " It's all strategy , it's a dance and most defendants know that "

On June 23,2009 Justin Grodin's jury has recommended that he be sentenced to death for the murder of Gretchen Grodin, And Mary should be walking out the door !
______________________________________________________




April 19, 2009

Dear Residents of Lee County:

For the past 20 years, I have had the honor to serve you as a law enforcement officer in numerous assignments and was proud to wear that uniform every day I reported to duty.

Although I came in contact with a lot of bad people in Lee County, which was my job, I also had the pleasure of serving good citizens, and I want to assure you there are far more good people than bad in this county, and we have a great community.

The past four years I have had the distinguished privilege serving you as your chief deputy/under sheriff, and I did the job every day with the highest degree of integrity, ethics and dedication to the service of others. During that time I maintained convictions that I would never compromise.

Those practiced, learned traits that were instilled in me by my Dad, who has since passed on, were as follows: Always maintain the highest degree of ethics and honesty, never trade principles for politics, never sugar coat anything, always telling it like it is, constantly remember that you chose this profession to serve others and not yourself, and if you don't like who you see in the mirror it is time to hang it up. I can still look in that mirror and like who I see, never regretting one minute of my devotion to the service of others.

Recently and regrettably you have been subjected to a circus of illusions at the Sheriff's Office and I know in my heart that most of you have seen it for what it is. Upon my departure, I ask of you for one thing and that is while being subjected to this circus of illusions please divert your attention and focus outside the circus tent for that is where the front line troops perform...

As the former chief deputy, I can attest to you that the certified law enforcement/correction and civilian members of the Lee County Sheriff's Office are the best of the best, and I was honored and proud to be serving with them.

These men and women serve you 24 hours a day, seven days a week with steadfast bravery, professionalism and dedication to public service, always putting the safety and welfare of others before themselves.

As I turn this page in my life as a servant to the members in this community, I want to assure you once again, Lee County, you are in good hands for these great men and women on the front lines have true servant hearts and have chosen this profession for all the right reasons. May God bless each of you and your families.

- Charles J. Ferrante is the retired chief deputy of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

 

However: Scott could not keep his mouth shut about this :
A few irrefutable facts:
Charlie's brother Dominick got caught lying to the Sheriff about using the word retaliation and Dominick resigned. Charlie approached the department Attorney about paperwork in his brother's file after the Sheriff told him numerous times to stay out of his brother's problem. Charlie himself was scheduled for a Civil Service Hearing for his conduct in a meeting with Ryan Bell and that hearing was to occur just days after Dominick's demise. Bell opted for a formal, written grievance but Charlie retired. Very specific individual behaviors followed by voluntary departures...the record is clear.
Sheriff Mike Scott
4/19/2009 10:53:17 AM

If the record is so clear to Scott, Why did he state that Charlie was leaving with an impeccable record and give him nothing but raving performance reviews of excellence ?
Scott may be better off not speaking at this time, he has made himself look even more foolish with all the recent events. Think first before you act !

_____________________________

Power Corrupts And Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

~ John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton ~

The Now Former Captain Michael R. DeTar  Sr. checks this site as much as possible looking for updates..I can't imagine what he or his family might be seeking to find but something to gossip about, I'm sure However that they are in deed very proud of the younger DeTar not making the news lately..
Captain Dominick Ferrante, Has a complaint from another crying captain who hired an "attorney" when IA failed to do their job when he went to them last year.
Larry King  said : It was not related to recent allegations against Bushong’s former superior, Capt. Dominick Ferrante.

Ferrante resigned on March 4, following allegations he threatened another officer over a firearm purchase that circumvented chain of command. Bushong’s name appeared in an e-mail involved in the allegations, in which Ferrante berates the officer’s junior for helping stall the purchase.

“...I thought it might be a good idea for you to be familiar with policy in your area of responsibility. Lt. Bushong has provided it for you,” Ferrante wrote in an email to Lt. Shane Hingson on Feb. 5.

It’s unclear as to what, exactly, Ferrante was referring.

Bushong’s suspension is another blow to the influence of Ferrante, the former head of the Special Investigations Division, and his brother, Chief Deputy Charles J. Ferrante, the agency’s second-in-command.

With these open investigations LCSO had no problem releasing all the details and names, However, 3 unknown deputies who fired their weapons, 1 victim was a known mentally ill man, LCSO refuses to name the deputies for some unknown reason, all are back to work and armed..

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Officer Involved Domestic Violence:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drew Peterson arrested in 3rd wife’s death, the Ex-police officer is also a suspect in 4th wife's disappearance...

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. - Drew Peterson, a former Illinois police sergeant in Bolingbrook, Ill.,and long suspected in the disappearance of his fourth wife, was arrested Thursday on a murder charge in the death of his third wife.

Peterson, 55, was taken into custody without incident Thursday evening during a traffic stop, not far from his home, Illinois State Police Capt. Carl Dobrich said at a press conference. A two-count indictment accuses him of murdering Kathleen Savio.

Bond was set at $20 million. In his self confident manner, Peterson said : "I guess I should have returned those library books,"

Savio's body was found in a dry bathtub on March 1, 2004. Her death was initially ruled an accidental drowning but investigators have since said they believe it was a homicide staged to look like an accident.

Authorities have said Peterson is also a suspect in the October 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, then 23, though he has not been charged in the case. Peterson has repeatedly said he thinks Stacy Peterson ran off with another man.

After Stacy Peterson's disappearance, Savio's body was exhumed and underwent forensic examination. An autopsy in November 2007 determined Savio was killed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deputies of the LCSO get away with DV and Sexual Assault...
Deputy gets Not 1 but 2 promotions and $1500.00 cloths allowance with possible raise..





"She had 15 shots to the back ! Worst case of Suicide ever seen ! "

You can come forward, Help is waiting !

Important Links :

policedomesticviolence.com/

www.myspace.com/tacoma_taser


Law Enforcement Against DV



"Raise Awareness! Promote Education! Seek Justice! FoReLEOIDV www.BRAME.BIZ"

www.myspace.com/foreoaledv



Officer-Involved Domestic Violence news:


[NC] Ex Police Chief Bradley - firearms violator or wife-killer?

IN MEMORY and JUSTICE 4 PATSY TINSLEY BRADLEY:

North Carolina Woodfin's Former Police Chief faces a federal firearms charge, but his deceased wife's family says that's not enough. Pete Bradley was indicted for illegally having a pistol. Because of an appeals court ruling, he can't have the gun because he was convicted of assaulting his wife, Patsy. The assault occurred a month before Patsy was found shot to death in the couple's home

1.[AR] Deputy Dinwiddie and Renee murder-suicide, April 2009,Three children are staying with relatives after their parents were killed in an apparent murder-suicide in White County. One of the children witnessed it happen. Police found Bronson Dinwiddie, 35, and Renee Dinwiddie, 29, shot to death inside a home , police believe a result of a murder-suicide but no one is saying who pulled the trigger[.
2.[TX] Jailed Ex Officer Fratta gets new murder-of-wife-Farah , April 2009, Texas Missouri City Police Officer Robert Fratta was convicted back in 1996 of having his wife Farah killed, and now he's getting a new trial.
3.[TX] Police Chief Ivy who repeatedly tasered girlfriend had domestic violence history, April 2009
Oakwood Police Chief Oly Ivey was arrested Monday for allegedly using a taser on his live-in girlfriend. Ivy is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bond is set at $100,000. 
4.Editorial disgust in New Zealand over Officer Harrod's tactical assault of his wife and how it was handled
5.[SC] Councilman's wife, Jennifer Lindemann, arrested for criminal domestic violence
6. [TX] Dalla Police Sr. Corporal Rex Jones, said to have beat son for leaving the TV on
7. [FL] DA drops attempted (wife) murder charge against ex-deputy Conner
8. [PA] Philadelphia Police Sgt. Seeger and 4 other officers fired
9. [VA] Deputy Kevin Jones Assault of wife and Trespassing charges
10. [TX] Officer Gueda free and clear after shaking charges of hurting his wife and stopping her from calling 911
9. [IN] Deputy's stepdaughter, 2 year old Alexis Camp, shoots herself
11.[MI] Ex-Officer Robert Vargas found guilty of stalking Officer Merritt
12.[NY] Janet Redmond-Mercereau found guilty of killing her fire marshal husband Doug Mercereau 
13. [IL] Ex Sgt Peterson sued: Peterson faces lawsuit over death of 3rd wife Kathleen Savio » link to Drew Peterson sued: Peterson faces lawsuit over death of Kathleen Savio
14.[WA] UNPRECEDENTED LEGAL MOVE IN THE SO-CALLED SUICIDE OF EX TROOPER RONDA REYNOLDS
15. (I blogged re: Ex Dep. Claggett news here, and thanked @Injust_Seattle in the text.
16.[RT]  @Injust_Seattle Clackamas County ex deputy Claggett is arrested on multiple DV charges after police standoff
17. Detective Jay Mehring in the last article was heard BY COPS threatening to kill his wife so i'm angry to learn he's even been rehired.
18.[RT]  @Injust_Seattle [WOW!] Spokane WA PD chief releases disciplinary files of 11 officers under pressure
19. BREAKING: Wife of Vestavia Hills Officer has a bullet in her head
20. Article: "Experts have profile of fathers who kill family

21. [FL] Deputy gets 2 promotions after cleared of DV and sexual assault

More LINKS To: OFFICER INVOLVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
Go here: www.msplinks.com

The combined money that Mike Scott spends on the luxurious civilian take-home car program and his over-sized legal dream team (about $1.25 million dollars annually, more or less), could be used to keep these substations open and available to the public.  In fact, this is the amount of money he said shutting down the sub-stations would save. Public service is more important than comfort and convenience

04/22/10


03/23/10

Lee Bushong  www.leebushong.com

From: Ellegood, Thomas
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 4:29 PM

Subject: Department Issued Cellular Phone

If you are receiving this email then records shown you as having a department issued cellular telephone as of the last billing statement. After a further review of all those that have issued cellular phones from the Bureau of Corrections it has been determined that you are not in a position that
requires you to have one issued,
I am directing you to turn your department issued telephone back in to Technical Services no later than end of business day March 5th 2010 so that the service can be disconnected. If you have a payroll deduction being
removed for use of this phone for personal use or extra texting, this amount will be discontinued on 03-05-10 by the finance department.
If you believe that I am in error and you should maintain your department iccuipri telenhone you need to contact me directly to discuss the matter.
I wanted to ensure that all certified members of the Bureau of Corrections
received this email with the intention of reaching all that may be affected promptly.
It is with regret that I inform you that all letters of transfer from Corrections to Patrol will not be accepted indefinitely. The current list of members waiting for transfer has also been suspended indefinitely.
The reasoning for this move is to focus on the manpower needs of the Bureau of Corrections and the agency as a whole. With the pending budget issues that are being communicated to us from the Board of County
Commissioners we currently are not replacing open positions agency wide when a vacancy presents itself. This maneuver will allow the agency to help protect the current employees that we have in place now as well as the benefits we all enjoy with our employment.
With the current waiting list reaching out until May of 2011, it is not reasonable to continue to add to that list at this time.

When we receive an approved budget from the Board of County Commissioners the agency will re-evaluate what steps can be taken and it will be my focus to assist you and start accepting letters of interest for transfer again.
If you have any questions I can assist you with or communicate any more information to you please feel free to contact me directly.

Col Thomas W. Ellegood, CJM
Bureau of Corrections Commander
Lee County Sheriffs Office
2115 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239)477-1573
telleqood@sheriffleefl.org
2/25/2010



Bill O'Reilly / Glenn Beck ~ 2012 ~


Truth is not racist, People are !

• 
               
  
• No one said it was racist when the same picture was done to Bush..
• Sadly; No Batman will be coming to rescue us from this Evil man, We will have to fight this battle out our selves and together.
• He promised Change and we got it, The worst Change this country has ever had..
• And he did all this before he choose Health Insurance for his own family..
• Cap and Trade and will sink this ship and the best done was to scream foul over a picture ?
• Really ? Really !
• The mentality of this issue is to sway your attention to this Stupid issue and Not the Real Issues,
• What you don't know : Will Hurt You !
• Some will be Stuck On Stupid when the day is over and watch how many
• "OHITLER" supporters will scream then.
  
  Rush Limbaugh :

[The Joker] had a big damn chip on his shoulder about his childhood and about a bunch of other things. His goal was to undermine the whole system. . . . And to effect the change that the people of Gotham City didn't want, the Joker created chaos upon chaos. The whole city was focused on him and what he was going to do next. He viewed crisis as an opportunity. So the Joker orchestrated crisis after crisis after crisis. And the Joker wore a mask. I mean whoever put this poster together is pretty smart because there are some similarities here to what the Joker did in that movie and what Obama is doing to this country.

Limbaugh claimed that Obama and the Joker share a fundamental traits and I agree..

The Italians Loved Mussolini; All he did for Italy made him a hero to them until Hitler made him a Murder.

Left, Right or in the Middle, We still have some rights left and I will continue to use them..It is my grandchildren I worry about, They will suffer more because of This administration. Everyone is crying out and No one is listening..

We all wanted Change but not Destruction ! This country was founded with God and Values, Since they been have taken away, We reap what we sow..

I'm tired of hearing Racial excuses, Its long past and only those who still dwell on the past generations are quick to say, Had Americans knew that any protest would of been conceived as Racial, We would looking at Sarah Palins Hair doo's everyday instead not to deal with being accused of racism over and over..
Politics is good comedy, Always have been. However, Now it's racial and wrong.
My views are not racial, I hate this Man and his ideas...He is not a Afro-American, He is the president of the USA, American Only !

No where on any applications does it say Italian-American, Irish-American but we have Latin-American and Afro-American..When will it Change to plain old just American ? Where is the National Organization for Italians to go to college, So I can send my kids..Why did the ACLU refused to act for a White man but Al Sharpton comes to town for a Black Man ??

Stop the Racial Crap and Move on and Get over it, Stop all the excuses and blame the person for accountability !

Check out this blog on our local paper and tell me who is racist ?



These are my opinions :

I don't have a degree or a national audience, However, I find nothing wrong or racist with any of the Fox reporters. Everyone should agree to dis-agree and that Thank God is Freedom of Speech for as long as we still have it.. 3 sides to every story and even the polls are pretty accurate.
34% - 56% say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
This has been the worst 6 months of my life time and the uncertainty scares me more than ever.

I believe few people are racist but lets face this, I am the third generation American and I have never owned a slave, I'm almost 50..
I have been discriminated in the work place forever because I am a woman, speak only English and is over weight..So does that make some racial because I am a fat white woman who can't speak Spanish ?

This is not a racial issue with anyone at Fox news..This is a political issue, It is the writers view of racism, It is never the views of any other race..It is how they ( meaning the writers ) perceive it to be and will never allow America to go forward or beyond the racial barriers, I have listened my whole life to this political incorrect BS and it's time for people to come together as Americans, The media keeps the fire fueled and now more than ever, I can't say I'm sorry for something I never did, Nor my parents and grand parents.
 
I don't see Obama as Black, I see a President that's dragging down this country with socialist ideals, However, we who disagree with him are all considered Racist but those who disagreed with every president prior that happened to be white by Votes, What were they ?
It is only a contributing factor when the media makes it one or some of color says it is to get the media to make it a racial issue, I personally am color blind but not ignorant to the facts of the issues..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

             

      

According to the latest polls:   

• 65 percent say President Obama is taking on too many issues

• His approval rating is at 50 percent (worse than Bush was after six months)

• He's fallen 7 points with independents (45 approve, 45 disapprove)

• 52 percent now oppose how he's handling health care — only 39 percent approve

• More than 3 out of 4 think Obama's plan will add to the deficit

Why the decline? Because Americans know something isn't right. Since when are we rushed like this? Since when are politicians the ones who guide our ethics and morals?

We had the AARP on the other day. They said, oh no, we don't see anything hurtful to seniors in there — it looks great.

Hey Glenn! I just found out I'm related to a Nigerian prince! He's going to wire me $10 million. All I have to do is give him $10,000 and my bank account number!

Wait! That's a scam! Stop!

No, you stop! It doesn't say anywhere in the e-mail that it's a scam. Plus, he made a pinky promise.

How many times have politicians promised us the moon and given us Detroit? No offense, Detroit, but you keep voting the same people in and your median home price is $7,500.

In 1965, the politicians said Medicare — something progressives see as a stepping stone to universal health care — would cost $9 billion by 1990. The actual cost: $66 billion — whoops, only off by $57 billion.

Obama's current plan is about $1.6 trillion. If it goes as well as the other government medical programs we've tried — or say, "cash for clunkers" — it will only cost us $13 trillion. Unless the government makes up the gap with higher taxes on coffins, we can't afford universal health care.

I want to ask you a very important question: That $13 trillion number is an actual number based on the errors of the past; would an $8-13 trillion error cause an emergency in this country? You decide, but hold your answer for a second.

Here's why I ask: When we're short money, the government has to decide who gets what. Who in government will be influencing and making those life and death decisions? The organizers, the advisers and the "czars."

AARP members, you must demand that the organization that claims to be looking out for you answers these questions. Who makes the life and death decisions?

Well, one of the people currently advising President Obama on health care policy has come up with his own "cost saving" health care methods. His name is Dr. Ezekial Emanuel, he's the brother of Rahm Emanuel and he wrote in January of this year:

"When implemented, the Complete Lives system produces a priority curve on which individuals aged between roughly 15 and 40 years get the most substantial chance, whereas the youngest and oldest people get chances that are attenuated... The Complete Lives system justifies preference to younger people because of priority to the worst-off rather than instrumental value."

But even more disturbing is this chart (above) that Ezekiel added into that article.

Another "czar" the media has ignored is Cass Sunstein, who wrote in the Columbia Law Review in January 2004:

"I urge that the government should indeed focus on life-years rather than lives. A program that saves young people produces more welfare than one that saves old people."

I want to make it very clear: What these people are talking about is how to ration in case of an emergency shortage — shortage of kidneys, hospital beds or flu vaccine.

What we all need to remember is that universal health care creates another shortage: a shortage of money. And when we are out of money, these are the people making the rules governing your health care.

I don't know if Obama believes any of this crazy stuff, but I also don't know why if he didn't he would appoint at least three people that do.

Never in my life would I appoint people who believe things like this. Why has no one in the media told you who these people are? And why hasn't AARP brought them to your attention?

Maybe that manufactured anger isn't manufactured. It's just Americans across the political spectrum sensing in their gut that they're moving to fast.

Why? Because something's not right. ~ Glenn Beck , Fox News 

        

Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott violated More Laws

Sheriff Mike Scott directed employees to search criminal histories, then gave that confidential information to a county business owner, terminated Lee sheriff’s Lt. Lee Bushong said Thursday.

He said he helped Taylor, his cousin, as he helps many others with their problems , Scott said he has e-mails to prove it.

“It was nothing personal,’’ said Scott, “It was a request from a local business for a prospective employee. We do criminal checks for a lot of people and  “I am well aware of policy on criminal history.’’

But Bushong said it violates sheriff’s office use of the National Crime Information Center and the Florida Crime Information Center — computerized indexes of criminal justice information for law enforcement.

“Information gleaned from NCIC/FCIC or Computerized Criminal History shall not be released to noncriminal justice personnel,’’ said Bushong

 
Lee Bushong said concern about the sheriff’s use of NCIC and FCIC systems was prompted by his crime analysts, who were “uncomfortable’’ gathering the information. Bushong said he asked if the request was professional or personal, and Scott told him it was personal.

Bushong said FDLE audits the sheriff’s office to make sure analysts provide proof their system searches are justified.

“I called him out on it,’’ Bushong said. “(NCIC and FCIC) can’t be used for personal business.’’

Bushong said Scott’s requests “put me in a hell of a position because I just violated some rules,’’ which had gotten some deputies fired.
Taylor said he asked the sheriff in a February e-mail for criminal histories on job applicants Alvaro Zavala and Vincent Cameron.

“Mike told me some things that were not good,’’ said Taylor, 45. “I hired Alvardo but didn’t hire Vincent. He just wasn’t the right fit for us.’’ Taylor said he didn’t receive preferential treatment from his kin. Mike Scott said there is no agency wide policy concerning free background checks for businesses.

Bushong said if Scott is found to have ordered misuse of the system, the punishment is harsh. “The FDLE could suspend their access to criminal history,’’ Bushong said. “They could come in and take all the sheriff’s office computers.’’

The FCIC Manual Chapter said “the FDLE may reinstate access to the data upon receipt of satisfactory assurances that such violations have been corrected.’’

Example made by Scott was Former Lt. Steve Ford, a LCSO deputy for 24 years, was fired Jan. 29, 2007, for filing misleading documents in a child adoption case. He was also cited for violating agency regulations when he checked on the girl’s father and used the police network for personal reasons.


According to the FCIC Manual Chapter 2.3 on use of information:

• “Information ... accessed through FCIC workstations located in local law enforcement agencies cannot be used for noncriminal justice purposes or released to noncriminal justice personnel.’’

• “Access to FCIC or information retrieved from the files shall not be made available to noncriminal justice agencies or private individuals. Information ... including both wanted and criminal history information shall not be made available under Florida's Public Record Law.’’

• “Sheriff’s Office members shall not knowingly violate or cause another to violate any statute, rule, or regulation relating to the Office of the Sheriff.’’

And he Speaks : These are what we are  lead to believe, the comments from Sheriff Scott ( Unconfirmed ):

I am amused thinking about the handful of cowards that sit behind their computers afraid to acknowledge their own opinions. In a county of about 600,000 it appears we have a dozen or so folks at the most contributing to this propaganda. Could even be fewer than that with a couple of different screen names making it appear to be more than it is...either way not an impressive ratio. An impressive ratio is the 75% average margin of victory I have earned in my 3 elections.

"avatar name" is defined by the New World Dictionary as the symbol 0 indicating a value of naught, a person or thing of no importance. I suspect this definition most closely applies to he or she who is consumed with my physique. Incidentally, I am 6'1" and weigh 215 pounds wearing the same duty belt I hired on with in 1988.

This is my first and second to last posting ever on this venue for people scared to own up to their words. I will follow with information on the 2 checks just to burst your bubbles. Mike


I fixed the spelling for 2 words, It was Propoganda and Imressive
and agencywide is 2 words...Your welcome Mike !

Having received very credible information that 1 of the 2 being checked was possibly wanted for murder, I inquired with intentions of arranging an arrest if such was the case. A full check was requested as opposed to the LCSO and FDLE website checks normally done due to my belief that a warrant was possibly active. Although the information I had was not completely accurate in that there was no active warrant,1of the guys did have a murder and 2 bank robberies in the past, so my information was close. This prior record was so egregious that Bushong came to me to personally express the seriousness of the fellow's criminal past. I called Taylor Carpet and verbally provided my opinion that the guy's past was quite serious and not likely a good fit for them. So the checks were in fact done for a legitimate, law enforcement purpose and a general opinion was verbally conveyed to Taylor Carpet...hardly the trumped up rhetoric promoted by this site. Sheriff Mike Scott

And I am Karma4all and replied :

Replying to SMIKE:

This is my first and second to last posting ever on this venue for people scared to own up to their words. I will follow with information on the 2 checks just to burst your bubbles. Mike

Sheriff Scott, I beg to differ with you but you are an Elected Official & the citizens on this blog are entitled to a response from you.
You chose to reply here & I have personally seen that this is a normal response to us when ever you are questioned. After I emailed you with issues , You responded to me with this:

From: Mike Scott ..

Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 10:13 AM

Frankly ma'am...you rant and rave too much for me. While I regret that you have not found the answers and results you are apparently looking for, our agency has investigated all claims and rendered fair and impartial decisions.

I read your inflammatory message over the weekend and see no need to engage in a volley of e-mail; therefore, consider this my final communication with you.


Mike

 
This is from another citizen:

What happened to you Mike?
You've disappointed a number of the people who voted for you, and its obvious you don't care.
Fear of retaliation is what prevents people from expressing their opinions.
If your goal in this election, which was your 2nd not 3rd was to have people fear you instead of respecting you, you've succeeded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

 

 

  Steven Russell , SAO

WOW....I KNEW THAT  YOU GUYS WERE IN BED TOGETHER BUT MIKE SCOTT ON TOP ? ?

The Sheriff’s Office never notified the State Attorney’s Office of Nick Christie’s death, despite a requirement by State Attorney Stephen Russell that his office be informed of in-custody deaths no later than the end of the next day.

Prosecutors only heard of the death from media reports in May.

The Lee Circuit Court, too, was never notified, and a bench warrant was filed in Christie’s and delivered to the Sheriff’s Office three weeks after his death. The court only learned of Christie’s death two weeks later.

 Bet you feel the " Abuse of Power " now, Don't you ?

From January to June 2007 , 1505 felony cases ended in forced pleas and 49 went to trial while 5856 misdemeanor cases ended in forced pleas and 45 went to trial according to Charlie Green Clerk of Courts for Lee county.

Kelly Worcester of the Felony head of the State Attorneys office said " It's all strategy , it's a dance and most defendants know that "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So...Where is it ?

State attorney should have three deputy-involved shootings for review by Friday

Well he never stated which Friday , However, Today; Wednesday.. We still have 1 more to go !

The state attorney’s office has determined a Lee County Sheriff’s deputy was justified in using deadly force against a San Carlos Park man on Feb. 15th .

George Vincent, 49, was shot and killed by a deputy while at his home .

The state attorney’s office finally released the name of the deputy who fired the fatal shots: Deputy Bryan Perera, 23

“Although the situation is tragic, our legal review is limited to the issue of whether the deputy committed a criminal act or was legally justified in the use of deadly force,” wrote state attorney Stephen Russell. “It is clear from evidence and witness statements that Perera had a well-founded fear for his safety and the safety of other persons in the area.”
Vincent’s widow, Deborah Vincent, disagrees with the outcome of the investigation

“I don’t feel that what they’re reporting is accurate,” Deborah Vincent said. “I’m not defending what George did, but for them to say he stood there with his gun at his side while they talked to him is a lie.”

_____________________________________________________

It's Sunday, and nothing was release yet !

Read the article by Sam Cook or in the F.Y.I section along with my personal opinion

After months of waiting this is what we got .....

All three investigations have been received by the state attorney's office for review, but there are still components in each, such as lab reports, that are pending. It could take weeks, perhaps months, before they are completed. State Attorney Stephen Russell said the length is common, as investigations vary depending on circumstances.

Scott said Russell's recommendation for independent investigations is just that - a recommendation, not a mandate.

"The deputies and detectives of the Lee County Sheriff's Office investigate everything from traffic crashes to violent felony crimes every day with complete objectivity and professionalism," Scott says. "... In officer-involved shootings, those entrusted to investigate within our agency are highly trained for the intricacies involved, while being diligently supervised by members with decades of knowledge and experience in this specific type of case."

Russell stands by the recommendation, saying it is not a declaration that such internal investigations are necessarily biased, but they can taint public trust in the integrity of the findings.

There is no law that says the sheriff's office can't investigate its own deputies for potentially criminal acts. Protocol varies throughout the state, and the state attorney's office reserves the right to conduct follow-up inquiries. All agencies conduct an internal affairs review to make sure agency guidelines were followed.

Steve Russell is not going to jump into bed with Mike Scott this time, He knows he is probably the next up on the Karma list..If an investigation is done on the SAO's office and closets are opened , Kelley Worchester may just fall out one and her statement that confirms that people are bullied into forced pleas because they are threatened with prison.


One former inmate stated : states on his website:
http://www.leecountyconspiracy.com

Crimes are committed in the county jail on a regular basis, but nothing is ever done about it because someone in jail, is obviously guilty before a trial here in Lee County Florida. You will NOT be afforded a fair trial in this county and the attorneys are forced to act as though they are representing you as much as possible on behalf of the State Attorney Steve Russell.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Tangled Web :

~Anatomy of a Corrupt Florida Prosecutor~

It’s a simple enough truth… when you play in the mud; you’re going to get dirty. This truth is especially applicable in the shadowy and often corrupt world of politics. Where money buys influence and favors at a relatively cheap price. Anyone with even minimal political acumen knows how to play the game – when a candidate is running for an elected office that campaign is financed by monetary contributions from those who want that particular individual elected. After they win that particular elected office, the unspoken doctrine of quid pro quo comes into effect… I scratched your back, now you scratch mine. When that same candidate --even elected judges and state attorneys – run for office numerous times with the same contributors consistently funding that campaign, then an obvious bond is forged.

If we truly value the concept that “justice is blind” then the marriage of politics and justice is a contemptuous abomination – an entity of evil that can only and ultimately bear evil fruit. However, in Florida each judicial circuit elects its top state attorney and circuit court judges locally. Thus, each time the same candidate runs for the same “office” they become inherently dependent upon the continuing support of local contributors. Thus, at least theoretically, of course, if a person wanted to corrupt locally elected state attorneys and judges to protect against any prosecution in the future, then they could simply become a generous campaign contributor – and call in the favor when trouble does inevitably arise. That’s how American democracy works – that’s the American way.

The Bible teaches us that “money is the root of all evil” and this truth is especially applicable in the shadowy and corrupt world of politics. Consider the case of the elected State Attorney Steve Russell in the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida. Steve Russell has worked in that circuit for over 30 years, since graduating from Stetson University and passing the Florida Bar. When previously long-time elected State Attorney Joseph D’Alessandro retired, Russell ran for that job and took office in 2003.

During the 30 years that Steve Russell has worked in the 20th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office (much of the time serving as the top prosecutor), although relatively small and comprised mostly of the rural farming communities of Southwest Florida, that office has established a record of having the highest number of wrongful convictions in capital cases in the entire country. Incredibly, just this one office has sent more innocent men to death row (subsequently released by the courts) than most other entire states, combined.

Steve Russell’s long-time personal friend and Stetson Law School alumnus Randall McGruther has worked alongside Russell for almost 30 years himself. But then a few years ago McGruther screwed up and attempted to go into private practice (which obviously pays more) only to shortly thereafter find himself under investigation for unethical misconduct after a witness in a criminal case alleged that Randy McGruther had attempted to coerce him into signing a false affidavit. Apparently, McGruther didn’t realize that although as a prosecutor he could get away with that, as a private lawyer he is not as protected. See, Prosecutorial Misconduct: Does Immunity Invite Injustice?

Shortly after these allegations were publicly disclosed, his long time good buddy, Steve Russell, by then the elected State Attorney, abruptly called McGruther back into the flock (birds of a feather…), and even appointed McGruther as his new Chief Assistant State Attorney, making McGruther the top prosecutor in the office! Not surprisingly, shortly after this appointment the allegations of misconduct previously lodged against Randall McGruther conveniently disappeared.

Does that sound just a bit fishy? But it actually only gets better, as a search of public records shows that in recent years McGruther has personally contributed thousands of dollars to Steve Russell’s campaigns… quid pro quo, baby! In fact, these public records show that McGruther has personally contributed well over $4,000 in recent years, with these substantial monetary contributions being made by McGruther while he was going through a contentious divorce and facing allegations of professional misconduct… and all on the salary of a public servant?

Although most of that money went to Steve Russell’s political campaigns, public records also show that McGruther contributed to the campaigns of numerous locally elected Circuit Court Judges, which raises substantial questions of conflict of interest. Money buys influence and in the political world there is no such thing as a free favor. So why was McGruther contributing money to the campaigns of locally elected judges that he knew he would argue cases in front of? If you were a criminal defendant being tried before a judge who was elected to that bench by monetary contributions made by the prosecutor, do you think you’d get a fair trial?

These facts are a matter of public record and cannot be denied. But this is not the end of the story. In 2006 the Florida Supreme Court threw out the capital convictions and death sentences against John Ballard, ordering his immediate release from death row upon the finding that Randall McGruther’s prosecution against Ballard was unfounded… that no credible evidence existed to support the convictions. See, Ballard v. State, 923 So. 2d 475 (Fla. 2006).

This Ballard case is an example of numerous other wholly circumstantial cases prosecuted by the 20th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office that subsequently resulted in the appellate courts throwing the convictions out upon find that no sufficient evidence existed to support the convictions. (I.E. Delbert Tibbs, James Richardson, Bradley Scott, John Landry, john Ballard, etc.) Each of these cases was based upon specious -- and arguably fabricated – circumstantial evidence in which the person was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death only to be exonerated and released from death row by the Appellate Courts.

In another wholly circumstantial case prosecuted personally by Randall McGruther almost 24 years ago, newly discovered evidence has now come to light that shows that the State Attorney’s Office knowingly collaborated and conspired with a key witness to deliberately convict and condemn Michael Lambrix to death for a capital crime they knew he was innocent of.

In that case, Lambrix was charged with a double murder in a locally sensationalized case in Glades County, Florida in early 1983. There were no eyewitnesses, no physical or forensic evidence, and no confessions. The entire case was built upon the testimony of Lambrix’s estranged ex-girlfriend’s testimony, who conveniently claimed that Lambrix told her he committed these murders, but only after she was charged with a another crime herself.

Lambrix pled not guilty and has consistently maintained his innocence. At trial the jury was not allowed to hear that this witness, Frances Smith-Ottinger, had actually told law enforcement officials numerous conflicting stories and had even failed a state administered polygraph test. Additionally, Lambrix was prohibited from personally testifying and virtually no defense was presented. Lambrix was convicted and condemned to death and has remained on Florida’s death row since March 1984. For a complete account of this case, please read, Condemning An Innocent Man

In recent years another witness has come forth stating that she was coerced into falsely testifying, Lambrix admitted killing the deceased, at trial by both the key witness and the state attorney’s lead investigator. An investigation into these allegations then revealed that at the same time Lambrix was prosecuted in this capital case, the key witness was engaged in a secret, illicit affair “of a sexual nature” with the State Attorney’s investigator, Robert Daniels – the very person who had sworn out the affidavit initiating the charges against Lambrix, then this same investigator personally supervised the development of the specious circumstantial evidence presented at trial.

Additionally Investigations revealed that the very evidence McGruther presented to the jury to convince them of Lambrix’s guilt was fabricated – and that McGruther knew this evidence was fabricated. More recently evidence has come to light that contrary to the key witness’ testimony at trial, she was given complete immunity from prosecution in exchange for her “cooperation” – all other charges against her were dropped shortly after Lambrix was convicted and condemned to death.

After almost 20 years of methodically stalking Lambrix’s wrongful execution, in 2004 McGruther was disqualified from the case due to the allegations of misconduct. However, no action has been taken against him – and under the protection of elected State Attorney Steve Russell, McGruther remains the top prosecutor in that Circuit.

Incredibly, McGruther now has bigger plans. With the history of alleged misconduct preventing McGruther from running for any publicly elected office, Randy McGruther is now posturing himself for political appointment to the bench. Public records reveal that McGruther became a substantial contributor to the most recent gubernatorial campaign of now governor “Chaingang Charlie” Crist. Once again, McGruther is spending money to manipulate the system. If Randall McGruther is successful in being appointed to the State Appellate Court bench by now Governor Crist, because of McGruther’s substantial contributions to his campaign, then with McGruther politically appointed for “life” without ever having to publicly campaign – his history of unethical misconduct will never have to be publicly debated.

All of these facts are a matter of public record and can easily be confirmed. The questions now is whether the public should allow someone like Randy McGruther to so brazenly manipulate the system to his advantage – do we really want someone like McGruther appointed to this bench for life?

If you have any information about prosecutorial misconduct in cases in the 20th Judicial Circuit (Southwest Florida) especially involving elected state Attorney Steve Russell, Chief Deputy Assistant Randall McGruther, or Assistant Attorney Cynthia Ross please contact us at info@southerninjustice.com or Southern Injustice PO Box 184, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0184.

I would encourage you to fully read the Southern Injustice website and blogs found at http://www.southerninjustice.com/ and contact both Florida Governor Charlie Crist and Florida Attorney General Bill McCullom imploring them to initiate an independent investigation into corruption within the 20th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office at the below phone numbers and email addresses: