Crime and Law

Chad Johnson Taken Into Custody For Probation Violation

Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chad Johnson, who had allegedly violated his probation earlier this month, was ordered back in jail on a token $1,000 bond by Broward County Judge Kathleen McHugh on Monday. Johnson will have a final violation of probation hearing on June 3. If he is found guilty ... More >>

Injured Pit Bulls Used For Dog Fighting Rescued In Indian River County

Three pit bulls and a puppy suspected of being a part of a dog fighting ring have been rescued by Indian River County police. The dogs were found at a home located at 4565 33rd Avenue in Vero Beach, and had injuries consistent with dog fighting, according to officials. When police found the dogs, ... More >>

"Harlem Shake" Video Goes Horribly Wrong at Palm Beach Subway

Fuck you, Jared. The Subway chain has a new advertising campaign -- the "Harlem Shake." But unlike the unremitting charm of the Jared Campaign, the sandwich king just can't seem to get this one right. (Or at least a recent lawsuit alleges.)

New Florida Law Will Speed Up Death Row Executions; Will Rick Scott Sign Bill?

A defining moment of Rick Scott's political career is at hand, in a form no one would have predicted. New legislation concerning the death penalty is on its way to his desk. If he signs it, the Sunshine State may embark on an official killing spree. Florida has long stood out among the 50 states in ... More >>

John Goodman Juror to Have Ground Rules Set by Judge

John Goodman's lawyers are looking for a way to get their client a retrial, and they just may have found it. Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Colbath is set to attend a hearing that will set some ground rules for an interview with Dennis DeMartin, who Goodman's lawyers are accusing of being a ... More >>

Larry Lawton, America's Most Notorious Jewel Thief, Just Wants To Masturbate In Prison In Peace

Yesterday, the Sun Sentinel ran a front page feature story on Larry Lawton, a local celebrity jewel thief selling his tale of criminality and incarceration in a new book called Gangster Redemption, but left out just one key fact. Larry Lawton just wants to masturbate in prison in peace.

John Goodman's Case for New Trial Goes to Judge

Last week, we told you how Polo mogul John Goodman's attorneys wanted his manslaughter, failure to render aid, and vehicular homicide sentences dropped, and for their client to be awarded a new trial, because of a self-published book written by one of the jurors. See also: - John Goodman's Lawyers ... More >>

Teens Arrested on Child-Pornography Charges After Videotaping Friends Having Sex

In a story that is equal parts heartbreaking, confounding, and just a friggin' nightmare to parents with kids of all ages, two Pasco County teens were arrested Tuesday on child-porn charges. The charges comes after one of them allegedly videotaped the other having sex with a girl on their high scho ... More >>

FAU's Football Stadium Sponsored by Prison

Florida Atlantic University has finally sold the naming rights to its football stadium. FAU and the GEO Group are set to finalize a deal on Tuesday to let the company have the naming rights. The GEO Group, which was founded by George Zoley, who received his bachelor's and master's at FAU and is a ... More >>

Charlie Crist's Wife, Carole Crist: Deadbeat Mom? Crist Loses Custody of Her Children

Following an apparent "change of circumstances," a New York County judge awarded temporary full custody of Carole Crist's two teenage daughters earlier this month to her ex-husband, Todd Rome, who alleges Florida's former first lady has abandoned and ignored her daughters for more than two years. ... More >>

Checkmate: Prosecutors and Debt Collectors Terrorize Consumers

Broward Cops Searching for One-Gloved Bandit

Cops are on the lookout for a crafty Walgreens robber who very nearly foiled their search. Since police have highly scientific ways in which to track a thief down by means of obtaining fingerprints left at the scene of the crime, this robber thought ahead and brought himself a glove to put on so he ... More >>

Two West Palm Beach Moms Sentenced for Using Their Children in Staged Accident Scams

Ana Ovando, a 42-year-old West Palm Beach mother, was sentenced to 78 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for using her kids in staged car crashes to make cash. Ovando used her five children -- aged 3 to 17 -- during three separate staged accidents that occurred within ... More >>

Robbers Reveal Their Identities by Accidentally Pocket-Dialing Victim

Two women, Ashlie Alewine, 22, and Nakilya Latisha Wright, 18, nearly pulled off the heist of the century when they robbed the InnPlace Hotel on Fifth Avenue South in Naples. They took money from the register. And they made a clean getaway. That is, until one of them accidentally ass- ... More >>

Robbery Suspect Recognized by Victims on Facebook

A Lakeworth man is facing armed robbery and aggravated assault charges after the two men he allegedly robbed recognized him on Facebook. Dondrae Mathew Pink, 18, was picked up by Palm Beach County cops on December 7 after two 17-year-old victims pointed him out to police as the man who had robbed t ... More >>

Anthony V. Mangione, Former ICE Chief, to Be Sentenced for Child Porn

Anthony V. Mangione, head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for South Florida, faces a mandatory five years in prison for child pornography. Prosecutors are shooting for up to seven years. In 2011, Mangione was placed on paid administrative leave after his internet provider, AOL, reporte ... More >>

Jailhouse Blues

Steven Marks Facing 40 Counts of Possessing Child Porn, Says Life Is Over

See also: Middle School Principal Scott Blake Arrested on Child Sex Charges and Rob Lopicola Child Sex Arrest: The Creepiest Text Messages You've Ever SeenBroward Sheriff's Office deputies executed a search warrant at Steven Marks' Sunrise home after his computer address was tracked down for alleg ... More >>

Mexico's Magical Homicides

Steak 954 Owners Sued in Class-Action Lawsuit

A class-action federal lawsuit filed on Friday alleges that Starr Restaurants Hotel Group stiffed employees on overtime wages. Starr Restaurants, according to its website, is the parent company of Steak 954 in Fort Lauderdale and Makoto in Bal Harbour. The suit was filed by a man named Jean Valsin, ... More >>

Kenneth Goldstein, 86, Kills Wife, Himself in Tamarac

Police are still investigating the details, but they said yesterday evening that an "ailing" 82-year-old woman found shot to death in her Tamarac home was killed by her 86-year-old husband, who then killed himself.Someone police described as "the couple's caretaker" heard gunshots shortly before 6 a ... More >>

It Was a Ruthless, Professional Hit, and It Was the Cops Doing the Shooting

Get MADD and Drive (Safely)

Florida Republican Reps Vote to Pass CISPA, Let the Government Root Around in Your Internet Data

For all their talk of small government, Florida's Republicans sure do like a bill that would let Big Brother spy on all the stuff you've been doing online.The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act would remove the legal barriers between the websites that have your data and the governmen ... More >>

PBSO Would Really Like to Catch the Guy Robbing Burger Kings in a Barack Obama Mask

​Somewhere in Palm Beach County, there is a man with red gloves, a Barack Obama mask, a silver handgun, and a pile of money that smells like French fries.The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office sent out another news release yesterday about the string of four fast-food robberies that started in Dece ... More >>

Florida Federal Judges Inconsistent on Drug Sentences

​Judges in Florida's Northern and Middle districts have some of the widest variations in the country when it comes to sentencing folks on federal drug charges, according to new data from Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a group affiliated with Syracuse University's l ... More >>

Fort Lauderdale Police Fighting Parole For Murderers Who Didn't Technically Kill Anybody

​In July 1974, Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Walter Ilyankoff was executed in the parking lot of a Red Lobster during a botched armed robbery attempt.The four men who committed the robbery were all convicted of first-degree murder. The three still alive are up for parole in August -- and the Fort ... More >>

Judge Sends Alleged Domestic Abuser on Date With Wife; Sun-Sentinel Thinks It's Adorable (UPDATED)

Update, 2:17 p.m.: Added comment from Hurley's judicial assistant.Update: 3:05 p.m.: Added comment from the president of Women In Distress.​Plantation's Joseph Bray is accused of pushing his wife onto a couch, putting his hand across her neck, and raising his fist to punch her. He was arreste ... More >>

Palm Beach State Attorney Michael McAuliffe Won't Seek Reelection

Editorial cartoon from the Palm Beach Sun​Was it the West Palm Beach cop-beating scandal? The steady exodus of prosecutors from his office? Or perhaps his spotty luck prosecuting corruption in the Riviera Beach Police Department?Michael McAuliffe cited none of these setbacks in his official statem ... More >>

Brandon Deyo, Son of Clown/Kiddie Porn Collector, Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charges

​Brandon Deyo, the son of David Deyo -- also known as "Noodles the Clown," who's currently serving a 17-year prison sentence for his child-pornography collection -- pleaded guilty today to possessing his own kiddie-porn stash.Brandon Deyo, 25, was an Air Force Reservist when police discovered his ... More >>

Cops Say Stephen Saftler Kept an 800-Image Kiddie-Porn Gallery on His Work Computer

​Downloading child pornography anywhere isn't the greatest idea, but at the workplace -- c'mon, man.Still, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department says that's what 62-year-old Stephen Saftler's been doing, as they served a warrant at his workplace in Sunrise yesterday.After seizing the computer in S ... More >>

Broward Hate Crimes Totaled More Than Any Other Florida County Last Year

​There were fewer hate crimes in Broward in 2010 than in 2009, but it's still a higher total than any other county in Florida.The 2010 report of hate crimes statewide was released today by the attorney general's office, which reports 19 of the state's 149 hate crimes last year occurred in Broward. ... More >>

Man Killed at Dania Beach Party, Cops Looking for Alleged Shooter and "Person of Interest"

Broward Sheriff's OfficeEric Hunter​A 20-year-old man was shot and killed at a Dania Beach street party early Saturday morning, and the Broward Sheriff's Office is looking for both the alleged shooter and a "person of interest" wanted for questioning.Dijon Brown, a Hollywood resident, was ... More >>

Janiber Vieira, Mother of Former Boynton Beach Cop David Britto, Gets a Year in Prison

​​​Janiber "Jane" Andrade Vieira -- mother of former Boynton Beach cop/alleged meth trafficker/federal fugitive David Britto -- was sentenced today to one year plus one day in prison.Vieira, 51, aided her son's escape to Brazil and was arrested in September on charges of contempt of court -- w ... More >>

David Britto Reportedly Said He'd "Kill Himself" if He Had to Go to Jail

David Britto, according to his mother's lawyer, said he'd "kill himself" if he had to go to jail for meth trafficking.​According to a sentencing memorandum submitted by lawyers of Janiber "Jane" Vieira -- the mother of fugitive/former Boynton Beach cop/alleged meth trafficker David Britto -- Britt ... More >>

Oba Chandler Set to Be Executed Today; Picked Salami Sandwiches for His Last Meal

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler, scheduled to die at 4 p.m. today.​Rapist/triple murderer Oba Chandler is scheduled to be executed at the Florida State Prison at 4 p.m. today, and he's already submitted the request for his last meal.According to Florida Department of Corrections spok ... More >>

Casey Anthony Probation Update: Still No Job or Money, Now Says She Hasn't Been Boozing

Orange County Sheriff's OfficeCasey Anthony​Casey Anthony showed up to her third monthly probation meeting last week, and she apparently hasn't been doing anything.The Florida Department of Corrections says Anthony's probation reports are redacted to prevent people from knowing where she lives, so ... More >>

Jakaris Taylor, Sentenced to Life at 17 for Role in Gang Rape, Now Resentenced to 60 Years

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeMug shot of Jakaris Taylor taken yesterday.​Jakaris Taylor, one of up to 10 people who took part in a West Palm Beach gang rape of a 35-year-old woman in 2007, as well as the beating of both the woman and her 12-year-old son, was resentenced today to 60 years ... More >>

Stealing From the Rich to... Oh, Whatever. Funny Is the Message in "Tower Heist"

Oba Chandler's Supreme Court Arguments Canceled; 12 Days Until Scheduled Execution

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler, scheduled to die in 12 days.​Arguments before the Florida Supreme Court in the appeal of triple murderer Oba Chandler's death sentence that were scheduled for Wednesday have been canceled, according to a filing from the clerk's office released just mi ... More >>

West Palm Beach Head Shop Workers Busted for Allegedly Selling Fake Weed

Not weed. But still not legal.​The main problem with selling the false weed commonly known as "spice" -- it's illegal too.The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrested 37-year-old Monica Lee, owner of the Hidden Treasure Smoke Shop in West Palm Beach, and one of her employees, 27-year-old Hope S ... More >>

Married Couple Convicted in Failed Murder Plot of Woman's Part-Time Boyfriend

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeCraig Anderson (left) and Cynthia Green-Anderson​Cynthia Green-Anderson told her on-and-off boyfriend Jerry Logan to drop by her aunt's house to pick up some things just after noon on August 2, 2008.Logan arrived at the house, and instead of picking up the stuff, ... More >>

Oba Chandler Denied Yet Another Appeal of His Death Sentence, So He Filed Another Appeal

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler​Rapist and three-time murderer Oba Chandler's eighth attempt at appealing his death sentence was denied, and of course, he filed a ninth -- which may be the last attempt before his scheduled November 15 execution.Chandler's lawyer filed a motion in cir ... More >>

David Britto's Mother Takes a Plea Deal, Will Likely Avoid Prison Time

David Britto, a federal fugitive who's free to sip margaritas on the beaches of Brazil due to his citizenship.​Janiber "Jane" Andrade Vieira -- mother of former Boynton Beach cop/alleged meth trafficker/federal fugitive David Britto -- accepted a plea agreement yesterday that may allow her to skir ... More >>

First Amendment Right to Blast Music to Be Considered by Florida Supreme Court

inquisitr.comThe Florida Supreme Court will decide whether this is your First Amendment right.​The issue of whether it's the First Amendment right of Florida drivers to blast obnoxious music from their cars way louder than anyone needs to will be heard before the Florida Supreme Court.The court sc ... More >>

Surprise: Rapist/Triple Murderer Oba Chandler Doesn't Want to Be Executed

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler​Rapist and three-time murderer Oba Chandler, who's scheduled to be receive his lethal injection at 4 p.m. on November 15, doesn't want to be executed. Imagine that.Chandler's lawyer filed a motion in a circuit court today seeking to have Chandler's ... More >>

Florida Corrections Officer Gives Some Interwebs Insight About State Prisons

zazzle.comWe don't even know who this hat belongs to.​Being a corrections officer is one of the strangest jobs imaginable -- you're stuck in a big concrete and iron box for eight-plus hours per day, surrounded by some of society's most loathed humans, who are likely armed with rusty shanks and ... More >>

John Henry Convicted of Murder in Beating Death of Man Who Broke Into His House Twice

Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeJohn Henry​Here's the thing about Florida's "stand your ground" law: It doesn't cover beating the burglar to death with a baseball bat when you find him later in a Walmart parking lot.A jury decided yesterday that 28-year-old John Henry did just that, convicting H ... More >>

State Rep. Wants to Ban Lethal Injections, Offer Inmates Choice of Firing Squad or Electrocution

sodahead.comAre you a sissy who doesn't like lethal injection? Try "a .45 caliber lead cocktail instead."​Florida's method of executing death-row inmates by lethal injection is just causing too much controversy, so State Rep. Brad Drake wants to end the practice.Drake has filed a bill to give the ... More >>

Rick Scott Inks Another Death Warrant: 65-Year-Old Oba Chandler Is Next

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler​Gov. Rick Scott signed a death warrant to give a lethal juicing to the second inmate of his governorship -- this time for 65-year-old triple murderer Oba Chandler.The execution is scheduled for 4 p.m. on November 15, but don't be surprised if that does ... More >>